ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in her Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved were in each of the cases listed.

Alun Michael: Records only exist for the period since Defra came into existence in June 2001. There have been no cases in that period.

Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of whether there are (a) physiological and (b) neurological differences between rabbits and moles, and badgers, which would affect their response to poisoning by fumigants, in terms of the distress and pain caused.

Alun Michael: All pesticides used as fumigants are subject to strict regulatory control and must be approved by Ministers before they can be marketed or used in the UK. Those seeking approval for such products are required to provide data to ensure that the product is safe, effective and humane.
	No specific assessment is made of physiological or neurological differences between rabbits and moles in response to poisoning by pesticide fumigants.
	However, the Advisory Committee on Pesticides considered a report in 1996 on humaneness of vertebrate control agents, which resulted in the loss of one pesticide fumigant substance and approval for the remaining pesticide fumigant products to continue. Data on humaneness of pesticide fumigants in relation to the target test species, such as rabbits and moles were considered.
	Use of pesticide fumigants against badgers, which are protected species, is not permitted, except in special circumstances, and as such would not have been considered.

Crematoriums

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will conduct (a) quantified and (b) qualified research into mercury emissions from crematoriums prior to reaching a decision on whether gas cleaning systems should be fitted.

Alun Michael: I refer to the reply to my hon. Friend on 17 November 2003, Official Report, column 624W, concerning the consultation paper the Department issued containing an assessment undertaken by the Environment Agency of the case for tackling mercury emissions from crematoria. The assessment included a review of the available mercury monitoring data and of estimates of mercury emissions from crematoria. Several of the responses to the consultation raised concerns that the emission estimates were uncertain. We recognise that there remain uncertainties and that these will have to be taken into account in reaching a decision on the extent to which gas cleaning will be required. The uncertainties do not extend to the health impacts of mercury nor affect our long-standing policy approach, as summarised in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark) on 14 October 2003, Official Report, columns 99 and 100W.
	Officials are currently in discussion with representative cremation organisations to develop a fair mechanism for reducing emissions from a proportion of existing crematoria which is what is needed to fulfil the Governments policy objectives. We will be consulting in due course on detailed proposals, including what that proportion should be.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the (a) thickness and (b) stiffness of twine on the escape properties of a trawl net;
	(2)  what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the use of double twine in the construction of trawl nets on the selectivity of gear; and what the effect has been of permitting the use of different thicknesses of twine on the size of fish caught in North Sea fisheries;
	(3)  what the impact of lightweight high-strength fibres on the (a) selectivity properties and (b) fishing performance of trawl nets is.

Ben Bradshaw: The effect of the thickness of modern twines on selectivity of whitefish gears was first studied in 1993 at the FRS Marine Laboratory Aberdeen. Since then several further UK studies have been completed. Thicker twine has been found to reduce selectivity. In the case of double twine a decrease in thickness from 6mm to 4mm has an effect equivalent to increasing mesh size by 10mm. A codend made of 8mm single twine has similar selectivity to that made of 5mm double twine.
	As a result of this research, legislation was introduced, initially by UK and then EU authorities, to limit the thickness of twines. It is not possible, however, to isolate the effect on stocks of this one measure limiting twine thickness as many other changes have been made to gear designs during the same period.
	Mathematical models of codend geometry have shown that stiffer twine limits the expansion of the codend as the catch builds up and hence limits the openness of the codend meshes in the area where the majority of fish escape.
	Nets made of lightweight, high strength twines will have lower drag for a given size. This will allow a fisherman either (a) to reduce his fuel bill and maintain the same catch or (b) to tow faster (with the same fuel bill) and possibly increase his catch per unit time or (c) to buy a larger net to increase catch at the same towing speed.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what trials have been carried out in British waters of the Icelandic Ex-It cod excluder device.

Ben Bradshaw: As far as is known, no trials with the Icelandic Ex-It excluder device have been carried out by any UK government departments or agencies.

Parliamentary Questions

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people seconded to her Department from outside organisations are helping to draft Answers to honourable Members' (a) oral and (b) written Parliamentary Questions.

Alun Michael: Defra's Ministers see secondment and interchange as a key means of complementing the skills and experience of the civil service, drawing in expertise from such fields as business, local government and the voluntary sector as well as other Government Departments. This is assisting Defra's commitment to playing its part in developing a modern, flexible, outward looking Civil Service that works in partnership with all sectors of society. Interchange is seen as a key tool in meeting this commitment. Defra continues to promote and encourage the interchange of personnel between the Department and a range of other organisations.
	The term "secondee" is used within the civil service in a more limited sense than the meaning used outside the civil service. In the civil service a secondee is a person "borrowed" from an organisation outside the Civil Service for a period of between three months, and three years (exceptionally five years), without affecting employment status. During the secondment period the secondee would remain an employee of the parent organisation but would be expected to abide by the Defra Staff handbook and the Official Secrets Act 1989. At the end of the secondment the secondee would return to the parent organisation.
	Defra currently has 41 secondees from outside organisations. All are at Higher Executive Office grade and above. The secondees are appointed on the basis of the match of competencies and skills required for the post and in the case of the 41 formal secondees from outside organisations in Defra at present this may include drafting answers to PQ's. Although some details of the secondee and the parent organisation are held centrally, duties undertaken on a day to day basis would be a matter for their managers and are not centrally recorded. Detailed information could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate costs.

Rural Payments Agency

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many and what value of payments (a) have been made and (b) remain unpaid from the Rural Payments Agency to Welsh farmers, broken down by (i) constituency and (ii) local authority area for each year since the scheme began.

Alun Michael: The following figures relate to payments made to Welsh farmers under the schemes administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), since its creation on 16 October 2001. The information has been provided by county, as breaking down the data by constituency and local authority area could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	
		Slaughter Premium Scheme (SPS)
		
			 County Amount paid (£) Claims paid Amount unpaid (£) Claims unpaid 
		
		
			 SPS 2001 scheme year   
			 Powys 949,142.78 4,067 1,966.90 133 
			 Gwynedd 1,145,295.95 3,400 0 1 
			 Dyfed 2,170,937.55 7,932 7,702.28 30 
			 Clwyd 1,089,531.08 3,798 0 47 
			 South Glamorgan 189,144.07 517 0 1 
			 Mid Glamorgan 101,975.55 428 0 0 
			 West Glamorgan 127,252.07 442 0 0 
			 Gwent 347,648.32 1,220 68.98 2 
			 Total 6,120,927.37 21,804 9,738.16 214 
			  
			 SPS 2002 scheme year   
			 Powys 1,936,838.88 4,530 16,421.97 199 
			 Gwynedd 1,902,937.06 3,211 2,309.23 170 
			 Dyfed 4,111,194.14 8,152 10,058.93 320 
			 Clwyd 1,863,821.23 3,422 16,700.55 131 
			 South Glamorgan 286,707.70 441 134.54 9 
			 Mid Glamorgan 202,331.81 437 288.30 15 
			 West Glamorgan 229,556.44 416 809.64 16 
			 Gwent 654,392.94 1,253 7,343.73 63 
			 Total 11,187,780.20 21,862 54,066.89 923 
			 SPS 2003 scheme year   
			 Powys 814,884.68 2,872 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 Gwynedd 532,338.62 1,739 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 Dyfed 1,631,216.48 5,082 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 Clwyd 886,446.12 2,092 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 South Glamorgan 160,487.66 278 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 Mid Glamorgan 73,947.73 230 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 West Glamorgan 88,914.76 234 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 Gwent 282,670.33 789 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
			 Total 4,470,906.38 13,316 (1)Unknown (1)Unknown 
		
	
	(1) 2003 scheme year still on-going figures as at January 2004
	
		Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS)
		
			 County Amount paid (£) Claims Paid Amount unpaid (£)(2) Claims unpaid 
		
		
			  OTMS payments 16 October 2001 to 31 December 2001 
			 Powys 843,391.22 2,828 12,000 32 
			 Gwynedd 775,822.93 2,655 9,000 24 
			 Dyfed 4,419,479.41 14,970 34,875 93 
			 Clwyd 1,079,744.08 3,633 10,125 27 
			 South Glamorgan 146,974.88 478 750 2 
			 Mid Glamorgan 119,429.71 410 0 0 
			 West Glamorgan 135,249.99 472 1,500 4 
			 Gwent 570,685.83 1,868 3,750 10 
			 Total 8,090,778.05 27,314 72,000 192 
			  
			 OTMS payments 2002
			 Powys 3,717,572.46 12,422 37,875 101 
			 Gwynedd 2,773,056.53 9,439 31,875 85 
			 Dyfed 13,436,464.53 45,786 96,000 256 
			 Clwyd 4,291,106.78 14,399 44,250 118 
			 South Glamorgan 434,365.31 1,378 3,750 10 
			 Mid Glamorgan 458,556.67 1,527 3,000 8 
			 West Glamorgan 433,968.41 1,497 9,750 26 
			 Gwent 1,718,300.68 5,753 16,500 44 
			 Total 27,263,391.37 92,201 243,000 648 
			  
			 OTMS payments 2003
			 Powys 3,491,120.13 12,151 35,250 94 
			 Gwynedd 2,281,981.75 8,155 37,125 99 
			 Dyfed 10,753,321.43 38,393 141,000 376 
			 Clwyd 3,867,087.60 13,434 42,750 114 
			 South Glamorgan 338,412.43 1,127 1,500 4 
			 Mid Glamorgan 341,557.64 1,160 3,375 9 
			 West Glamorgan 296,161.28 1,076 5,625 15 
			 Gwent 14,531,26.91 5,103 29,250 78 
			 Total 22,822,769.17 80,599 295,875 789 
		
	
	(2) The Rural Payments Agency's OTMS payment system does not calculate animal values until they are eligible for the scheme, The figures for unpaid animals have been calculated using an average payment of £350 each.
	Livestock Welfare (Disposal) Scheme (LW(D)S)
	This scheme has since been discontinued and there are no outstanding payments to be made to any Welsh farmers.
	
		
			 County Amount paid (£) Claims paid 
		
		
			  LW(D)S payments 16 October 2001 to 31 December 2001 
			 Powys 3,223,518.38 1,889 
			 Gwynedd 818,603.48 799 
			 Dyfed 1,542,907.28 810 
			 Clwyd 624,018.76 421 
			 South Glamorgan 77,391.02 5 
			 Mid Glamorgan 271,002 175 
			 West Glamorgan 172,199.04 81 
			 Gwent 327,034.63 193 
			 Total 7,056,674.59 4,373 
			  LW(D)S payments 2002 
			 Powys 83,615.19 135 
			 Gwynedd 113,093.69 105 
			 Dyfed 68,914.98 67 
			 Clwyd 172,903.61 66 
			 South Glamorgan 1,100 2 
			 Mid Glamorgan 34,370.78 29 
			 Total 473,998.25 404 
		
	
	
		LW(D)S Slaughter Premium Scheme (SPS) top up payments
		
			 County Amount paid (£) Claims paid 
		
		
			 Powys 418,597 1,658 
			 Gwynedd 68,085 432 
			 Dyfed 283,481 680 
			 Clwyd 132,118 337 
			 South Glamorgan 6,301 7 
			 Mid Glamorgan 16,553 39 
			 West Glamorgan 24,591 40 
			 Gwent 85,763 99 
			 Total 1,035,489 3,292 
		
	
	
		The Agrimonetary Scheme—16October 2001 to April 2002
		
			 County Amount paid (£) Number entitled 
		
		
			 Clwyd 97,793.70 543 
			 Dyfed 313,785.30 1,976 
			 Gwent 43,708.64 221 
			 Gwynedd 32,048.30 265 
			 Mid Glamorgan 7,231.90 43 
			 Powys 50,077.70 338 
			 South Glamorgan 11,362.02 63 
			 West Glamorgan 5,516.54 54 
			 Grand total 561,524.10 3,503 
		
	
	This scheme for dairy farmers was introduced with the intention of offsetting the reduction in prices received by UK dairy farmers resulting from currency fluctuations during 1999 and 2000.
	There are no outstanding payments for this scheme.
	The RPA made these payments from October 2001 to April 2002.

Sudden Oak Death

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she has evaluated on whether spores of sudden oak death are carried by (a) the air, (b) water and (c) human movement.

Ben Bradshaw: The disease "Phytophthora ramorum" (or Sudden Oak Death) was described as a new species in October 2001. As it was a new species very little was known about the disease and no research had been conducted which could be evaluated to determine how the spores are dispersed.
	From June 2002 Defra and the Forestry Commission have commissioned research to investigate the biology of the disease including how spores of this organism are spread. The research programme is on-going. However, preliminary investigations have detected spores in water, soil and leaf litter but not so far in air. More intensive air sampling is planned for the spring when conditions are more conducive for spore production. The possibility of dispersal via wind blown mists cannot be ruled out. Studies are also assessing the role of vertebrates in spreading the pathogen. If humans or animals come into contact with infected soil/debris or other contaminated material it is possible that they could spread spores of the disease but it is unclear how significant such dispersal would be in establishing new infections. Defra and FC scientists are also keeping in close contact with colleagues in the USA who are investigating this disease.

Swill

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures are in place to enforce the ban on feeding swill to pigs on farms and smallholdings.

Ben Bradshaw: Following the introduction of the ban that was introduced in May 2001 the State Veterinary Service made a series of visits to all former swill feeders to ensure compliance was achieved. It is now Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 which prohibits the feeding of catering waste to farmed animals and the enforcement powers laid down in the Animal By-Products Regulations 2003 are exercised by the local authorities. The Chief Veterinary Officer, however, continues to ensure that local authorities and the State Veterinary Service are reminded of the importance of remaining vigilant on compliance during all visits and inspections.

Swill

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she will take to prevent wild birds feeding at landfill sites containing disposed swill, in relation to the prevention of the spread of disease to livestock.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra and the Environment Agency have reminded operators of landfill sites of the animal health risks from waste food and of their obligations to ensure precautionary measures are taken to help prevent scavenging by wildlife. These include prompt burial with progressive covering with non food waste to ensure waste food is not left exposed, and robust vermin and pest control measures.

Swill

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of farms and smallholdings which may still be feeding unprocessed swill to pigs.

Ben Bradshaw: It has long been illegal to feed unprocessed swill and since May 2001 it has also been illegal to feed processed swill. There should therefore be no farms or smallholdings feeding such material to pigs.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what special safety inspections are made, and with what regularity, on the aircraft of airlines that are allowed to use UK airports but are banned on safety grounds from using some other European airports;
	(2)  what his policy is on data sharing on aircraft safety with other European countries; and what his policy is on the proposed EU Directive on this.

Tony McNulty: The Government have consistently supported data sharing arrangements established under the European Civil Aviation Conference's Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) programme. The reports of all inspections of foreign aircraft carried out under the programme are entered on a central database and may be accessed by all participating states. We also support the proposed EC Directive on the safety of third-country aircraft using Community airports, which is based on the SAFA programme.
	My answer to the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross (John Thurso) on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 546W, explains why the SAFA database cannot be used to determine whether an airline currently has restrictions on its operations to an ECAC State. The database only contains details of aircraft inspections and immediate corrective action. In most cases such action relates to the specific aircraft inspected and the airline would be free to operate flights using other aircraft. Moreover many restrictions last for only a few days while the issue identified is addressed.
	The record of inspections on an airline's aircraft by other states is taken into account in determining our own programme of inspections.
	The SAFA programme is under constant review and we are working with our European colleagues to extend and refine the information on the database.

Aircraft Safety

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety inspections are undertaken on aircraft flying from the UK which are owned by airlines that are banned on safety grounds from landing in certain other European countries.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to my answer given to him today (ref 153666, 153686).

Commercial Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received on (a) overnight parking facilities for commercial vehicles and (b) dedicated rest areas.

David Jamieson: Two representations have been received on these matters since July last year.

Driver, Vehicle and Operator Group

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the resources which agencies within the Driver, Vehicle and Operator group will require from 2003–04 to 2006–07 to carry out vehicle enforcement responsibilities previously carried out by police forces in England and Wales; from which sources the extra resources will come; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is progressively taking over the role from the Police of stopping vehicles, in order to carry out roadside compliance checks using its own staff and vehicles. The estimated costs are £1.7 million per annum. The Department is providing finance for the setting up period but, in the long run, this activity will be funded through fees.

Edinburgh Airport

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1006W, on Edinburgh airport, if he will place in the Library a list of addresses for the 33 households.

Tony McNulty: The figure of 33 residential properties that would need to be taken if a new close parallel runway were to be built at Edinburgh airport comes from a map based appraisal analysis designed to enable comparison of options. This exercise was not designed to be a highly detailed or final assessment of specific options. Individual addresses were not therefore recorded as part of it.
	The Air Transport White Paper called for the preparation of the airport masterplans. The masterplan for Edinburgh airport will be incorporated into the strategic planning framework for West Edinburgh and future local development plan revisions. This will enable a more definitive view to be taken of exactly which properties will be affected when future planning applications are made. This will in turn allow the owners of those properties which may be affected to seek redress under the terms of the non-statutory scheme for Edinburgh which BAA are currently considering.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Network Rail and (b) rail operators protect their (i) stations, (ii) tracks and (iii) rolling stock from graffiti;
	(2)  if he will co-ordinate a programme of cleaning graffiti from tracks, stations and rolling stock.

Tony McNulty: Network Rail has responsibility for ownership and maintenance of the national rail network infrastructure, including the removal of graffiti. In 2003–04, £2.5million was allocated in Network Rail's Safety and Environment Plan to tackle environmental issues like graffiti, rising to £3.5million in 2004–05. Network Rail is also taking forward a number of partnership projects with local authorities in different regions to enable graffiti removal from roadside parapets and walls of Network Rail-owned bridges.
	Train operating companies (TOCs) have responsibility for removing and preventing graffiti on those railway stations that are leased to them and on their rolling stock. The SRA's new franchising agreements contain key performance indicators in the areas of station security and the on-train environment. This further incentivises the prevention and removal of graffiti by train operating companies by tying the issue of cleanliness firmly to their profits. The SRA also encourages all train operating companies to seek accreditation under the Secure Stations and Secured Car Park award schemes. Such schemes have proven their value in reducing all types of crime, including the prevention of graffiti.
	The Home Office's Anti-Social Behaviour Unit is taking forward a national action plan—'Operation Scrub-It'—aimed at developing initiatives to tackle graffiti. This is being taken forward in partnership with the British Transport Police, Crime Stoppers, Network Rail, London Underground and other transport providers.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of international trends in the use of liquefied petroleum gas for road vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: There is limited information on international trends in the use of LPG for road vehicles. There were an estimated 107,000 LPG vehicles in the UK in 2003. In contrast, there are estimated to be over one million LPG vehicles in Italy which has the largest European market.
	The European Commission Alternative Fuels contact Group recently presented their report on The Market Development of Alternative Fuels. The report argued that a combination of alternative fuels had the potential to achieve a 20 per cent. market share by 2020 and identified LPG as having the scope to achieve a 5 per cent. market share by 2010.
	Globally, significant markets for LPG also exist in South Korea, Japan, Australia and North America.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed in the UK in the road vehicle liquefied petroleum gas industry.

David Jamieson: The latest estimate of the Liquid Petroleum Gas Association is that there are 2,500 people employed in the industry in the UK.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicles in the UK have been converted to run on liquefied petroleum gas; and how many have been converted with the aid of a PowerShift grant.

David Jamieson: According to the Liquid Petroleum Gas Association, approximately 107,000 vehicles had been converted to run on LPG by the end of 2003.
	Since 1997, 17,383 vehicles have been converted to run on LPG with the aid of a Powershift grant.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Chancellor about the impact of fuel taxation measures on (a) liquefied petroleum gas conversions, (b) environmental damage and (c) public health.

David Jamieson: The Government issued a joint DfT/HMT/HMCE consultation document in June 2003, which sought views on the future structure of the Government's support for road fuel gases and natural gas in the short to medium term. The consultation is available on the DfT website. The consultation summarised the growth of the LPG sector incentivised by fuel duty differentials, reduced vehicle excise duty and the availability of grants under the Transport Energy programmes. Further, the consultation made an illustrative comparison of the environmental performance of LPG vehicles in comparison with conventionally fuelled vehicles.
	The Government are currently considering the responses to this consultation and will announce their decisions in Budget 2004.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many re-fuelling sites are available in the UK for (a) liquefied petroleum gas and (b) compressed natural gas.

David Jamieson: According to the Liquid Petroleum Gas Association and the Natural Gas Vehicle Association, there are approximately 1,300 LPG re-fuelling sites in and 18 compressed natural gas re-fuelling sites in the UK.

M5

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of upgrading Junction 10 of the M5 to allow northbound and southbound traffic to join and leave the motorway.

David Jamieson: The cost of upgrading Junction 10 of the M5 to a full movement junction would be in the region of £15 to £30 million at current prices, depending on the design and the cost of land required.

Motorways

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what works are being carried out adjacent to the southbound carriageway of the M1 motorway between junctions 14 and 13 in Buckinghamshire which relate to alleviating motorway noise; when this work was authorised; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Kim Howells: These noise mitigation works are being constructed outside of the highway boundary by a private landowner and are not publicly funded.
	Planning consent for a 6 metre high, 150 metre long screening bund was granted by Milton Keynes Council in May 2003.

Rail Freight

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many rail freight miles were travelled in each year since 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Rail freight moved in Great Britain is published by the Strategic Rail Authority each quarter in "National Rail Trends". In 2002–03, rail freight moved was 18.7 billion tonne-kilometres.

Road Accidents

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) deaths and (b) serious injuries there have been on the (i) A12, (ii) A134, (iii) A120 west of Colchester, (iv) A120 east of Colchester, (v) A137 and (vi) A133 in Essex in the past 12 months.

David Jamieson: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Casualties from Road Accidents: 2002(3)
		
			  Fatal Serious 
		
		
			 A12 15 125 
			 A133 2 21 
			 A134 4 24 
			 A137 2 16 
			 A120(4) 4 6 
			 A120(5) 4 29 
		
	
	(3) Last full year for which figures are available
	(4) East of Colchester
	(5) West of Colchester

Road Improvement Projects

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate real terms cost inflation for road improvement projects for each year since 1997.

David Jamieson: The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) monitors prices for new road construction and publishes indices. The DTI's Road Construction Tender Price Index (RCTPI and also known as the ROADCON Index) is based on priced rates contained in accepted tenders for road construction, motorway widening and major maintenance schemes costing over £0.25 million obtained from the Highways Agency and local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. The indices are published every quarter and the first two columns of the table are abstracted from the latest available ROADCON Index figures (December 2003). The third column has been calculated for this answer.
	
		
			  ROADCON Index Year on year "inflation rate" (in ROADCON Index terms) since 1997 
		
		
			 1997 100 — 
			 1998 99 -1.0 
			 1999 100 1.0 
			 2000 114 14.0 
			 2001 117 2.6 
			 2002 121 3.4 
			 2003 (6)122 0.8 
		
	
	(6) The figure for the year 2003 is an interim figure as (i) the year is not yet complete (the last quarter is January to March 2004), and (ii) the indices for the last two published quarters are provisional and subject to adjustment (when delayed data are received by DTI).

Roadworks (A1)

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  for what reasons advance warning was not given of the closure of the exit from the A1 at Newark to the A17 and A46;
	(2)  for what reasons 24-hour working is not taking place on the southbound carriageway of the A1 near Newark;
	(3)  for what reasons and for how long the junction between the A1, A17 and A46 at Newark will be closed; and for what reasons the exit from the A1 at this point is closed;
	(4)  for how long he expects the southbound carriageway of the A1 to be closed at Newark.

Kim Howells: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Archie Robertson to write to the right hon. Member.
	Letter from Archie Robertson to Mr. Greg Knight, dated 11 February 2004
	I have been asked by the Transport Minister, Kim Howells, to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about road closures as a result of work being carried out on the A1 Trunk Road at Newark.
	The major resurfacing scheme on both carriageways of the A1 at Newark is taking place on a heavily trafficked section of road, which includes a busy interchange (with A46/A17) and is situated close to built-up areas. As such, the work is inevitably subject to certain constraints.
	There are two sets of warning signs informing drivers of the closure of the slip roads at Newark, on both the north and southbound carriageways of the A1, together with signs to follow the appropriate diversion routes. Advance signs are also situated on all approach roads to the slip roads, again with diversion signs in place giving instructions on how to access the A1. Additional signs, over and above those required to meet statutory requirements, were erected on the diversion routes on 16 January to give greater clarity for users of the diversions.
	In order to maintain traffic flow, both north and southbound, contraflow working is being used. For safety reasons, and to allow a smooth flow of traffic through the contraflow lengths, the slip roads to the A46/A17 need to be closed. Some resurfacing is also being carried out on the slip roads themselves. Although the southbound carriageway was reopened on 1 February, it is now subject to contraflow working whilst the northbound carriageway is dealt with.
	Unfortunately, it is not possible to undertake this work on a 24-hour basis due to the close proximity of residential property. For environmental reasons Newark and Sherwood District Council have placed restrictions on working after 10pm so that local people do not suffer undue noise nuisance overnight.
	I am pleased to say that good progress is being made with the resurfacing and all work is on target to be completed by the 16 March. The Agency regrets any disruption that these essential maintenance works may have caused. Wherever possible, we do try to keep this to a minimum and give advance publicity locally. I note, from these and previous questions you have asked, that you frequently use the north—south route, either via the A1 or M1.
	If you would like any further information the Agency's Route Manager, Graham Littlechild, will be more than happy to assist you. Please let him know if you would like to be included on a circulation list for advance publicity when works of this kind are proposed on these routes in the future. He can be contacted at our offices at Broadway, Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1BL, or by telephone on 0121 678 8034.

Speed Cameras

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many speed cameras there were in Wales in each year since 1997, broken down by (a) police force, (b) constituency, (c) safety camera partnership and (d) local authority area.

David Jamieson: We do not hold information centrally for camera operations other than those operated within the Safety Camera Partnerships. The figures from the South and Central Wales safety camera partnership, which joined the scheme from April 2000 and the North Wales partnership, which joined the scheme in October 2001, are as follows.
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 North Wales (7) (8)— 28 45 66 
			 South and Central Wales (9) 33 80 313 357 
		
	
	(7) Covers the North Wales police authority area
	(8) Prior to joining the safety camera programme
	(9) In 2000–01 and 2001–02, covered the South Wales police authority area; from 2002/03, joined by Gwent and Dyfed and Powys police force areas
	Notes:
	1. For 2003–04 the number of sites shown are those approved in the operational cases for 2003–04, not all of which may yet be operational.
	2. These figures exclude red traffic-light cameras.
	3. Police authorities also have operational discretion to deploy cameras exceptionally at other locations, including "community concern sites", where there is evidence of speeding causing concern to local residents.
	We do not record this information specifically by police force, constituency or local authority area.

Uninsured Vehicles

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were killed or seriously injured in accidents involving uninsured cars in the last year for which figures are available.

David Jamieson: Information on the number of people killed or seriously injured in accidents involving uninsured vehicles is not held by my Department.
	Data on accidents collected centrally in the Home Office do not identify the circumstances surrounding the offence.

Uninsured Vehicles

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the average additional cost to car insurance premiums resulting from damage from uninsured vehicles involved in accidents.

David Jamieson: The Motor Insurers' Bureau estimates that the average cost to each motorist's insurance premium as a result of uninsured drivers involved in accidents is between £15 and £30.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his policy on (a) the provision of loans and grants to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and (b) the maximum annual percentage uplift by which the agency may increase its fees and charges.

David Jamieson: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), as a Trading Fund, may receive loans or grants to accomplish its objectives that are agreed with the Department. Fees and charges are set periodically, based on the costs and commitments in undertaking functions.
	There is no maximum ceiling for the VOSA's annual fee increases, but all proposals are subject to a thorough series of consultations and submissions both with the Driver, Vehicle and Operator group, the Department for Transport, Ministers and the Trade before any increase in fee levels is agreed. Ministers have to approve all fee increases to be included in Statutory Instruments (SI) and have to sign SIs prior to them being presented to Parliament.

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of (a) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's contribution to the improvement of road safety and environmental standards and (b) failure rates on checks and tests of (i) heavy goods vehicles, (ii) public service vehicles and (iii) light goods vehicles reported in the Vehicle Inspectorate's Effectiveness Report for 2002–03; and what targets he has set for these checks and tests for 2003–04 to 2005–06.

David Jamieson: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency's contribution to road safety and environmental standards is made through its range of licensing, testing (including emissions testing), enforcement, education and training services, and through its supervision of MOT testing. Fleet compliance checks are carried out regularly to assess the base-line condition of vehicles and to compare them against our targeted checks. Failure rates at annual test for heavy goods vehicles, public service vehicles and light goods vehicles remain unsatisfactory. Slightly higher fail rates for heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles in 2002–03 over previous years is mainly due to a new item in the test.
	The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is increasingly targeting bad practice among operators and owners of vehicles through improved knowledge and intelligence systems. The responsibility for test failure rates lies with operators and owners, and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has not been set specific targets. The Agency has been set effectiveness improvement objectives for its enforcement activities during 2003–04. Enforcement effectiveness is measured by Performance Gain points, and the Agency is to achieve at least a 2 per cent. improvement across all its activities, including for enforcement of HGV and PSV roadworthiness and environmental standards. No objectives have yet been set for enforcement effectiveness in 2004–05 or 2005–06.
	Performance Gain is an agreed indicator of the outcome value in road safety compliance terms of each of VOSA's specific enforcement activities and has been operating for several years during which annual performance objectives have been met.

Vehicle Excise Duty

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures are in place to ensure that the owners of untaxed illegal foreign cars are traced and brought into the United Kingdom car tax regime; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: A vehicle which is registered and taxed in its home country may be used by a visitor to Great Britain for up to six months in 12 without being subject to domestic requirements. To qualify for this exemption the visitor must have their normal residence outside GB.
	If at any time a vehicle being used in Great Britain on foreign plates is stopped by the police, it is the responsibility of the keeper to demonstrate that they are eligible to use the vehicle without licensing and registering it here. If they are not eligible, enforcement action will be taken.

DEFENCE

Apache Helicopters

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  when he expects the training facilities for Apache helicopter pilots to be available;
	(2)  for what reasons training equipment is not available to train Apache helicopter pilots;
	(3)  when he expects there to be sufficient trained helicopter pilots available to enable the helicopters at RAF Shawbury to be put into front line service.

Adam Ingram: Training facilities for Apache helicopter pilots are already available and being utilised. The Army expects to achieve Initial Operating Capability in August 2004 and a task force capability based on nine Regiment Army Air Corps during spring 2005. The numbers of aircraft in storage will diminish progressively from mid 2004 through to autumn 2005.

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff in his Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence does not hold this information.

Civil Contingency Reaction Force

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many Civil Contingency Reaction Forces (CCRF) reservists are allocated to each of the regional CCRF units; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many training days members of Civil Contingency Reaction Forces undergo; what is covered at each training day; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: 500 Civil Contingency Reaction Force (CCRF) reservists are allocated to each of the 14 regional CCRF units. Members of the CCRF receive five days training per year, in addition to their normal reservist training. The additional days are used to ensure familiarisation and integration with the local authorities and the emergency services. They also ensure that the procedures for mobilisation are well practised. This is achieved through practical exercises and study periods and is completed in the context of the normal training regime, which covers areas such as First Aid, Fitness, Nuclear Biological and Chemical drills, map reading and communications.

SDR (Consultation Document)

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the individuals and organisations to whom (a) his Department, (b) its executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for which his Department is responsible sent a copy of the consultation document, A New Chapter to the Strategic Defence Review: the role of the reserves in home defence and security.

Adam Ingram: The consultation document "A new chapter to the strategic defence review: the role of the reserves in home defence and security" was distributed by the Ministry of Defence in June 2002, with a consultation period of three months.
	It is not possible or practicable to list every individual who received a copy of this document. However, I can confirm that the following organisations or groups of people were sent a copy:
	The Chairman and Members of the House of Commons Defence Committee
	Opposition Defence Spokesmen
	Selected Government Departments
	Ex-Chiefs of the Defence Staff
	The Local Government Association
	Local Government Chief Executives
	Emergency Planning Society
	Scottish Executive
	Northern Ireland Executive
	Welsh Assembly
	Libraries of both Houses
	Media (selected broadcast, print and specialist media)
	A limited number of copies were also made available to the regular and reserve forces. However, the primary means of consultation for both the internal and external audience was through the MOD website, which carried a dedicated area for the consultation document.

Decommissioning

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the planned decommissioning dates are for (a) HMS Vanguard, (b) HMS Victorious, (c) HMS Vigilant and (d) HMS Vengeance;
	(2)  what the (a) maximum and (b) planned lifespans are for the UK Trident missile system;
	(3)  when he expects to make a decision on replacing the strategic nuclear deterrent with a new system; and what the latest date is by which this decision must be made.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 20 February 2004
	I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 3.11 of the Defence White Paper published in December 2003 (CM 6041).
	As with other key defence capabilities, we routinely undertake studies into the optimum operational life and value for money rather than specifying a fixed lifespan.

Helicopter-borne Forces

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what use the additional investment to reduce the response times of helicopter-borne forces to deal with renegade shipping has been put; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: In accordance with the SDR New Chapter, a programme of enhancements to the Ministry of Defence's support for Maritime Counter Terrorism has been introduced. This will allow MOD to continue to provide support to the civil authorities in response to this threat. The programme includes enhancements to equipment and the training of additional aircraft crews and engineers.

HMS Roebuck

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the ability of HMS Roebuck to remain fully operational until its planned decommissioning in 2014.

Adam Ingram: HMS Roebuck is planned to begin a ship life extension programme in September 2004. The programme will cover mechanical systems, hull structures, habitability, in-service support and the updating of her survey capability, including a new multibeam echo sounder. It will extend her life until around 2014.

Human Rights Violations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will reply to the question from the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr of 2 December 2003, on human rights violations, reference 141740.

Adam Ingram: I replied to the hon. Member on 6 February 2004, Official Report, column 1104W.

Iraq

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effect of British cluster bombs on (i) Iraqi armed forces during the conflict and (ii) civilians since large-scale hostilities ceased; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We evaluate the performance and effects of all our equipment following the conclusion of every military operation involving UK Forces. The department's 'First Reflections' report included a brief summary and our initial assessment of the effect of cluster bombs during major combat operations in Iraq. Cluster bombs were used by UK forces against dispersed Iraqi military forces in the open or on the periphery of built up areas where they played an important role. Had cluster bombs not been used in this way more powerful and more destructive munitions would have been needed.
	The UK takes seriously its obligations as a member of the coalition to provide a safe, secure and risk free environment for the Iraqi people. Since the end of major combat operations 675,000 munitions have been cleared in the UK area of responsibility. We do not record individual types of munitions cleared.

Jan Willem Matser

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received about the case of former NATO employee Jan Willem Matser convicted of forgery and fraud in the Netherlands; what discussions he has had with the NATO Secretary General on the implications of the case; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I have not received any official reports regarding this case, nor have I raised the matter with the NATO Secretary General.

Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to instruct the (a) Defence Procurement Agency and (b) Defence Logistics Organisation to make an annual report on their work, to include the total amount in bid costs refunded to contractors in respect of procurement competitions being (i) terminated and (ii) substantially altered.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for replacement oilers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Adam Ingram: The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) programme is intended to provide the Royal Navy with a significant element of its future afloat support requirements as the current capability provided by the RFA fleet is progressively withdrawn from service. This will include the replenishment at sea of bulk consumables such as fuel oil, lubricants, water, stores, ammunition, and food. MARS is currently reaching the end of its concept phase prior to the start of its Assessment Phase during which the project team will work with industry to establish how best to deliver this capability. As MARS comes into service, it will progressively replace those existing oilers due on current plans to be withdrawn from service over the next decade with the exception of the two new Wave Class Auxiliary Oilers which came into service in 2003.

Sea King Helicopters

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2004, Official Report, column 505W, to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler), on Sea King helicopters, whether the helicopters in the collision were equipped with accident data recorders.

Adam Ingram: No. The only Royal Navy helicopters fitted with accident data recording equipment are some of the Merlin Fleet.

Sea King Helicopters

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2004, Official Report, column 505W, to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler), on Sea King helicopters, what assessment he has made of the need for fleet-wide night vision capability since the collision;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether senior officers are satisfied that there was no malfunction of equipment during the exercise;
	(3)  what (a) lights and (b) equipment were not permitted for use on this occasion that are permitted in normal night-time flying conditions;
	(4)  what experience the crews of the two helicopters had had of flying in these conditions in respect of (a) use of radar, (b) use of radio, (c) lighting, (d) restricted vision and (e) restricted flight path;
	(5)  whether the crews of each helicopter had radio communications with Mission Control on board HMS Ark Royal;
	(6)  what recommendations from the Board of Inquiry report have been acted upon by his Department;
	(7)  whether the crews of each helicopter had a radar surveillance and advice warning from Mission Control on board HMS Ark Royal;
	(8)  what assessment of rules and procedures for night flying senior commanders (a) had made before the mission and (b) have made since the mission;
	(9)  whether both Sea Kings had been permitted radio contact with (a) each other and (b) HMS Ark Royal throughout the exercise;
	(10)  what other helicopters were operating in the area;
	(11)  how many sorties each helicopter had completed before the accident; and whether they had reported difficulty with (a) flying conditions, (b) restricted vision, (c) restricted flight path and (d) malfunction of equipment.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member with the information he has requested, and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Sea King Helicopters

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2004, Official Report, column 505W, to the hon. Member for North Cornwall (Mr. Tyler), on Sea King helicopters, when the Royal Navy Flight Safety and Accident Investigation Centre will publish its report on the accident.

Adam Ingram: The accident investigation into the loss of the Sea King helicopters from HMS Ark Royal will take at least another six months. A copy of the resulting accident summary will be placed in the Library of the House.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's definition is of a weapon of mass destruction.

Geoff Hoon: As the Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my hon. Friend for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien), said on 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 769W, there is no universally accepted definition of the phrase "weapons of mass destruction", but it is generally held to refer to nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Motoring Offences

Alan Milburn: To ask the Solicitor-General in how many cases in the last five years initial charges of causing death by dangerous driving have been reduced to the charge of careless driving.

Harriet Harman: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) holds no central records on particular charges, or on the amendments made to charges.
	This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Sir Roy Meadow

Tim Loughton: To ask the Solicitor-General on what occasions Sir Roy Meadow has given lectures to judges and other court officials on the subject of infanticide and harm of children at the hands of their parents.

Harriet Harman: Details of the lectures given by Sir Roy Meadow at seminars organised by the Judicial Studies Board appear in the following table.
	
		
			 Seminar Lecture Date 
		
		
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 7–9 May 1997 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 6–8 May 1998 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 5–7 May 1999 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 9–12 May 2000 
			 Continuation Seminar for Nominated Care District Judges Paediatric Reports 22–24 May 2000 
			 Seminar for Potential Nominated Care Judges The Paediatric Witness 1–4 May 2001

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff in her Department have been (a) investigated, (b) suspended, (c) dismissed, (d) prosecuted and (e) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what amounts were involved in each case.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has had no reported cases of staff involved in benefit fraud in the last six years.

Digital Broadcasting

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the criteria are by which the sequence by region of digital switchover will take place; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: Digital switchover will be a phased process, with different regions switching at different times. Part of the work of the Digital Television Action Plan is to agree the order in which different regions are switched. The reports from the BBC and Ofcom and the Digital Television Consumer Expert Group expected at the end of March, will help inform our considerations.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives her Department has undertaken to encourage communities to become involved in graffiti prevention.

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport works with other Government Departments and agencies, including the Home Office and Youth Justice Board, to deliver initiatives that seek to reduce antisocial behaviour, such as graffiti, by offering developmental sports and arts activities as an alternative. These include:
	Positive Futures:
	We are key partners in this national sports, based social inclusion programme targeted at marginalised 10 to 19-year-olds in the most deprived areas. It aims to build relationships between responsible adults and young people based on mutual trust and respect in order to create new opportunities for alternative lifestyles.
	Positive Activities for Young People:
	We are one of a number of Government Departments and agencies that work together to deliver Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP). PAYP is a three year cross Government and Lottery funded school holiday activity programme that aims to reduce street crime, build community cohesion and encourage children and young people to return to education or training by engaging them in high quality sport and art activities. It is targeted at young people most at risk of truancy or offending and areas with high levels of street crime or community cohesion problems.

Historic Buildings (Gift Aid Relief)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with charity owners of historic buildings on the impact of the changes to gift aid relief against admission ticket revenues announced in the Pre-Budget Report.

Richard Caborn: DCMS officials have been talking to Inland Revenue colleagues and representatives of a variety of associations and representative bodies about the implementation of changes to the Gift Aid Scheme announced in the pre-Budget report with a view to ensuring that the changes do not cause unnecessary problems for the charities affected.

Licensing Act

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the administrative costs to (a) local authorities, (b) individual licensees and (c) central government of the changes to the licensing regime resulting from the Licensing Act 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Proposed fee levels and the expected costs of compliance with the 2003 Act were set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which accompanied the Licensing Bill and is available from the House Library. Regulations setting out the fees to accompany applications for licences, club premises certificates and other applications will be laid before Parliament shortly, showing the cost to individual licensees and applicants.
	The Department is working closely with the Local Government Association to produce licensing fees which are set at a level to provide for full cost recovery in respect of administration, inspection and enforcement. In those cases where the Department has announced that there will be an exemption from the payment of fees in certain circumstances the costs will be met by central government.

Lottery Funding

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for Lottery grant funding have been received in the last year from Cunninghame, South; what the total value was of these applications; and how many of these applications were successful.

Estelle Morris: This Department has never collected comprehensive information on either the number or value of applications for Lottery grants received by the Distributing Bodies.

Lottery Funding

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications were made for Heritage Lottery funding in (a) Trafford and (b) Altrincham and Sale, West in each of the last five years.

Estelle Morris: The number of applications that were made for Heritage Lottery Funding in (a) Trafford and (b) Altrincham and Sale, West in each of the last five years were:
	
		
			 Financial year Trafford Altrincham and Sale West 
		
		
			 1997–98 4 3 
			 1998–99 1 0 
			 1999–2000 1 0 
			 2000–01 1 1 
			 2001–02 1 1 
			 2002–03 2 1

Lottery Funding

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Heritage Lottery funding has been awarded in the Altrincham and Sale, West constituency in each of the last five years; and how many projects were awarded funding.

Estelle Morris: The amount of Heritage Lottery funding awarded to Altricham and Sale, West constituency in each of the last five years together with the number of projects funded was:
	
		
			 Financial year Heritage lottery funding Number of projects 
		
		
			 1997–98 257,800 3 
			 1998–99 0 0 
			 1999–2000 0 0 
			 2000–01 44,000 1 
			 2001–02 0 0 
			 2002–03 0 0

Repeat Offenders

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what programmes her Department has set up to encourage the reform of repeat offenders.

Estelle Morris: There are a number of ways in which the Department seeks to prevent offending, including repeat offending, through engagement by young people in arts and sports activities, for example:
	Positive Futures:
	We are key partners in this national sports—based social inclusion programme targeted at marginalised 10 to19-year-olds in the most deprived areas. It aims to build relationships between responsible adults and young people based on mutual trust and respect in order to create new opportunities for alternative lifestyles.
	Unit for Arts and Offenders:
	Funded through the Arts Council of England, the Unit for Arts and Offenders is a national umbrella organisation that supports the development of the arts within criminal justice settings.
	Positive Activities for Young People:
	We are one of a number of Government Departments and agencies that work together to deliver Positive Activities for Young People (PAYP). PAYP is a three year cross Government and Lottery funded school holiday activity programme that aims to reduce street crime, build community cohesion and encourage children and young people to return to education or training by engaging them in high quality sport and art activities. It is targeted at young people most at risk of truancy or offending and areas with high levels of street crime or community cohesion problems.

Sport England

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the (a) technical and financial contracts, (b) technical consultants used on a call-off basis and (c) financial consultants used on a call-off basis by Sport England since 1 January 2003; what the nature of the assignment for each consultant was; and what the value of work done by each consultant was.

Richard Caborn: Details of contracted consultants for Sport England in the calendar year starting on 1 January 2003 are as follows.
	
		
			 Name Service Type of service Cost (£) 
		
		
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Tax/VAT Advice Regular, ongoing technical advice 72,479.63 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Communications; Electronic Document Records; Cash Management and Procurement Strategy One off consultancies; financial 76,069.50 
			 PriceWaterhouseCoopers Internal Audit Advice/Services Regular, ongoing financial 17,841.90 
			 Mazars Internal Audit Advice/Services Regular, ongoing financial 67,945.00 
			 Baker Mallett Quantity Surveying and Project Management Regular, ongoing financial 24,200.00 
			 Capita Property Management Quantity Surveying and Project Management Regular, ongoing financial 91,878.50 
			 EC Harris Quantity Surveying and Project Management Regular, ongoing financial 167,180.21 
			 JR Knowles Capital Quantity Surveying and Project Management Regular, ongoing financial 239,414.59 
			 Pick Everard Quantity Surveying and Project Management Regular, ongoing financial 65,921.50 
			 Turner & Townsend Quantity Surveying and Project Management Regular, ongoing financial 160,250.47

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Indian Ocean Territory

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the income expected this year is from fishing licences in the British Indian Ocean Territories; and what it was in each of the past five years.

Bill Rammell: Income this year (financial year 2003–04) to 31 December 2003 from fishing licences was £534,309. We cannot predict the expected income for the final quarter, but it is unlikely that revenue will reach that of previous years.
	Income from fishing licences in the past five years in the British Indian Ocean Territory was as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Income (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 2,271,595 
			 1999–2000 744,042 
			 2000–01 1,108,072 
			 2001–02 822,497 
			 2002–03 613,060

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the evidential basis was for the comment by the Minister for State, the hon. Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. Mike O'Brien), on Newsnight on 3 February that Iraq is the only country to use weapons of mass destruction.

Mike O'Brien: As my hon. Friend knows, Iraq under Saddam Hussein is the only country to have used weapons of mass destruction against both neighbours and its own people. This is a fact that neither my hon. Friend nor any other hon. Member has disputed in the past.
	It was this point that I was attempting to make in the discussion when I was interrupted by the presenter of the programme.

Passports/Visas

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of the United States on their policy that all visitors from the United Kingdom travelling on passports issued after 16 October without a biometric chip will require a visa; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wrote to the US Secretary of State on 16 December 2003 to express concern at the US legislation and suggest that a joint FCO/UK Passport Service delegation visit Washington to discuss ways forward. The team visited Washington from 21–23 January. It asked the US to extend its deadline of 26 October 2004 for visitors' new UK passports to contain either a biometric identifier or a US visa. The US noted the UK position, and a formal response is awaited.
	The scale of the technical challenge currently makes the US requirement unachievable for the UK, and most other countries, before the end of 2005.
	British citizens visiting the US with machine-readable passports issued before 26 October 2004 are not affected by the new US requirement.

Tristan da Cunha

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits the Governor of Tristan da Cunha has made to (a) Tristan da Cunha and (b) the Ascension Islands in the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The Governor has made four visits to Tristan da Cunha since 2001, the latest of which was in January this year.
	The Governor has made 14 visits to Ascension Island in the last five years.

Tristan da Cunha

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ministerial visits have been made to (a) Tristan da Cunha and (b) the Ascension Islands in the last five years.

Bill Rammell: There have been no ministerial visits to Tristan da Cunha in the last five years. I visited Ascension Island in November 2003 and took the opportunity to meet with Island Councillors at their Chamber. Ministers also regularly transit the Island on their way to and from the Falkland Islands.

UK Businesses (Exports)

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how his Department (a) encourages and (b) assists UK businesses to export.

Mike O'Brien: A key role of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) (formerly British Trade International)—a joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry department—is to present the benefits of internationalising business as well as equipping firms with the information and capabilities to fulfil their export potential. UKTI encourages and assists business by offering a range of services to companies, details of which are contained in its current Departmental Report issued in May 2003 (Cm 5915). UKTI's Departmental Report for 2003–04 will issue in April 2004. Copies of Departmental Reports are laid in the Library of the House.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the extent of the clearing of landmines in Afghanistan in each of the last two years; and what the contribution of the United Kingdom has been.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: According to figures produced by Landmine Monitor and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), clearance of landmines and associated activities in Afghanistan in 2001 and 2002, the last years for which reports are available, have been as follows:
	
		
			  2001 2002 
		
		
			 Minefield clearance (sq km) 15.6 19.0 
			 Battle area clearance (sq km) 81.2 92.6 
			 Minefield survey (sq km) 14.7 25.2 
			 Battle area survey (sq km) 80.8 92.5 
			 Mine awareness training (people) 730,000 2,448,151 
		
	
	DFID has provided the following sums for mine action in Afghanistan: £3 million in 2001–02 and £1.8 million in 2002–03.
	We are currently considering further support for UNMAS in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of the number of Afghan refugees in (a) Pakistan and (b) Iran.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The most recent estimate by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is 1.6 million individuals. The number, however, is difficult to assess accurately as there has not been a registration since 1995. In addition, there are significant numbers of Afghans in Pakistan who are not refugees. In Iran UNHCR's estimate is 1.9 million. Here most of the Afghan refugees are registered, although there may be a significant margin of error.

Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to assist African governments with the implementation of the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Declaration;
	(2)  what plans he has to discuss the implementation of the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Declaration with the Government of Cameroon; and what steps he is taking to assist the implementation of the indicative actions relating to bushmeat;
	(3)  what plans his Department has to combat illegal logging in (a) Ghana and (b) Cameroon in the next 12 months;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the World Bank concerning the implementation of the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Declaration;
	(5)  if he will discuss the implementation of the Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Ministerial Declaration with the Government of Ghana; and what plans he has to assist the implementation of the indicative actions relating to the issue of bushmeat.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Africa Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (AFLEG) Conference was held in Cameroon in October 2003. The Declaration commits timber producing and consuming countries to tackle illegal logging and associated trade. It includes an extensive list of "indicative actions". The Declaration suggested that the World Bank finance a meeting of regional representatives of the AFLEG process and decide on the next steps and the next meeting of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in Geneva in May, is the most suitable occasion for this follow-up and we are in discussion with the World Bank about this. We have also discussed with the World Bank a review of the effects of economic reform programmes on forest law enforcement and governance, as called for in the Declaration.
	The UK's support to the AFLEG declaration will be delivered through the EU and through the programmes of the Department for International Development (DFID). The UK is working with the European Commission and member states on the EU Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade. The Action Plan provides for Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) between the EU and timber producing countries. Initial discussions with Cameroon and Ghana on VPAs took place in London in December. Further discussions will be organised by the European Commission and member states with these and other African countries in the coming months.
	At the London meeting in December officials from Cameroon explained that they would incorporate AFLEG follow-up actions within their sector reform programme (the Forest and Environment Sector Programme). This Programme spans forest and wildlife management. It aims to improve governance and will emphasise the involvement of local communities in management. DFID has, with other development agencies, supported the development of this Programme and is currently in discussion with the Government of Cameroon about their future support. Our support will be to the programme as a whole and not to any particular elements of it. In addition to this, over the next twelve months we will continue our support to independent monitoring of timber harvesting by Global Witness.
	In Ghana DFID has been supporting a broad programme of forest and wildlife sector reform over many years. This has radically changed the institutions and the way natural resources are managed, promoting better governance and greater accountability. Over the next 12 months the new timber concession system will be implemented which includes better environmental standards and social responsibility agreements with forest fringe communities. In addition, DFID is supporting two new initiatives to improve the involvement and oversight of civil society and Parliament in forest and wildlife management.
	The list of "indicative actions" included in the AFLEG Declaration is not a plan of action. We have not singled out support to any "indicative actions" related to bushmeat. Our support to sector reforms in both Ghana and Cameroon does, however, aim to strengthen the capacity of those countries to deal with wildlife and poverty issues. It is for the governments concerned to prioritise actions within their sector reform programmes.

Departmental Staff

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of staff employed within his Department are over 55 years of age; and what (a) number and (b) percentage of staff recruited over the last 12 months are over 55 years of age.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The following table shows the number and percentage of staff in DFID aged 55 and over at 1 April 2003. The figures are based on the headcount of permanent civil servants.
	
		Number and percentage of staff in DFID aged 55 and over at 1April 2003
		
			  DFID 
		
		
			 Age 55 plus 150 
			 Others 1,490 
			 Total 1,640 
			 Percentage of staff aged 55 plus 9.1 
		
	
	Note
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Rounding may lead to inconsistencies between the sum of individual cells and the totals are calculated from the unrounded numbers.
	Source
	DFID
	The following table shows the number and percentage of recruits to DFID over the period 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 who are aged 55 years and over. Figures are based on the headcount of Permanent civil servants.
	
		Number and percentage of recruits to DFID over the period 1April 2002 to 31March 2003 aged 55 and over
		
			  DFID 
		
		
			 Age 55 plus 10 
			 Others 120 
			 Total 130 
			 Percentage of recruits aged 55 plus 8.1 
		
	
	Note
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Rounding may lead to inconsistencies between the sum of individual cells and the totals are calculated from the unrounded numbers.
	Source
	DFID

Liberia

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking to ensure greater transparency in the Transitional Government in Liberia.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) has agreed, with the support of the international community, a Results Focused Transitional Framework to guide the process of reconstruction during its two-year period of office. It includes benchmarks on improved governance, democratic development, the rule of law, and transparency and accountability of public institutions (including those responsible for the financial sector and procurement).
	The NTGL has taken several steps to improve public financial management. It has made the Ministry of Finance solely responsible for tax and revenue collection and has made it a criminal offence for other officials to collect them; it has ended the monopolies on rice and petroleum products; and it has announced audits of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, the Forestry Development Authority, the National Port Authority, the Bureau of Maritime Affairs and Roberts International Airport. It has also set up committees to examine measures needed to bring order to the forestry and diamond industries and to the aircraft registry. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in August 2003, provides for free and fair elections in October 2005.
	We support the NTGL in these objectives. For 2003 and 2004, we have committed a total of £16.6 million in bilateral aid and £13 million as our share of the EU budget for Liberia.

PRIME MINISTER

Mr. Tom Kelly

Julian Lewis: To ask the Prime Minister for what reasons he has not dismissed Mr. Tom Kelly as his official spokesman following the publication of Lord Hutton's criticism of him.

Tony Blair: My official spokesman made an immediate and very full apology at the time, and he repeated it to the inquiry. Lord Hutton deals with this in his report.

Cabinet Secretary

James Gray: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 713W, of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what dates (a) the then Cabinet Secretary reported that he had been approached by IBM UK to join its advisory board, (b) the then Cabinet Secretary sought the Prime Minister's permission to take up the appointment and (c) the Prime Minister gave his approval for the appointment to be taken up; and what the conditions were on that approval.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 13W. This appointment was accounted for in the second report of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Prime Minister what the first date was on which he told President Bush that the UK would be prepared to go to war with the US against Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 11 June 2003, Official Report, column 868W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Renewable Energy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to (a) re-examine and (b) change the renewables obligation on electricity suppliers; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: A review of the Renewables Obligation will take place in 2005–06. Last December, the Government announced an increase in the level of the Obligation for the years between 2010 and 2015 so that it increases in stages to 15.4 per cent. by 2015–16.
	There will be a statutory order to give effect to some technical changes from 1 April 2004 following a consultation exercise last autumn. The statutory consultation needed to implement the extension of obligation will take place later this year and may contain other proposals to mitigate the risk of future shortfalls in the renewables buyout fund.

Baku to Ceyhan Pipeline

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the environmental impact of the Baku to Ceyhan pipeline; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: ECGD carried out a rigorous assessment of the environmental, social and human rights impacts of the BTC pipeline project in accordance with its Case Impact Analysis Process.
	ECGD assessed the project using World Bank and EU environmental guidelines and standards. The Department studied over 11,000 pages of project documentation covering the environmental and social impacts; met with, and received comments from, interested third parties, including those arising out of ECGD's public disclosure procedure, and carried out a site visit. Independent environmental consultants were also employed to assess the project and assist in ECGD's analysis.

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with representatives of the US Department of Energy regarding the BNFL contract to build a nuclear processing plant in Idaho; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: BNFL's subsidiary BNFL Inc. has a contract with US DoE to manage waste at a facility in Idaho—the Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Plant. My officials have liaised with USDoE and the company on the settlement of claims for compensation under the terms of the contract. These discussions are a commercial matter.

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her Written Statement of 11 December 2003, Official Report, columns 93–95WS, on BNFL strategy review, if she will make a statement on the future of BNFL's US subsidiaries.[R]

Stephen Timms: As set out in my announcement, the priority for BNFL going forward is to focus on UK clean up. Against this background, the objective relating to the US activities is to manage the businesses to deliver value and in a way that limits and controls risk to the UK taxpayer. In relation to the Westinghouse business, the Government have agreed with the BNFL Board that steps will be taken to enable the business to operate with greater financial independence from its parent, so that possibilities for private sector participation are opened up.

Broadband (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on roll-out of broadband in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley; and how (i) urban and (ii) rural businesses will benefit.

Stephen Timms: I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave on 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1167W, covering the roll-out of broadband in Lancashire. The roll-out of broadband is primarily a matter for the Operators. According to BT's website (www.bt.com/broadband/), Chorley's telephone exchange has been enabled for broadband via ADSL since 30 June 2002. Broadband in Chorley may also be available over cable television, satellite and fixed wireless networks.
	In November 2003, I called for public bodies, broadband providers and community organisations to work together to bring broadband availability to every community in the UK by the end of next year. BT and others have since come forward to support this target.
	Broadband will enable urban and rural businesses to become more productive, innovative and competitive. The joint DTI/DEFRA Rural Broadband Unit has recently published a toolkit to help businesses in rural areas understand the issues and benefits of broadband. Further information for the benefits small businesses can get from broadband is available on the UK Online For Business website, including an availability checker, (http://www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk/cms/template/general-content.sp?id=249178)

Building Maintenance (Door-to-door Sales)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking to address problems caused by the door-to-door selling of building maintenance.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government are concerned about the practices adopted by some doorstep traders and welcomed the Office of Fair Trading's investigation of the doorstep selling market. The investigation report is expected in the next couple of months. Recommendations resulting from the investigation will be considered very carefully.

Business Links

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses were helped by each Business Link operator in England in 2001–02.

Nigel Griffiths: The following table shows the number of businesses assisted by Business Link Operators from April 2001 to 31 March 2002.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 County Durham 1,585 
			 Northumberland 516 
			 Tees Valley 3,293 
			 Tyne and Wear 3,286 
			 Cheshire and Warrington 3,714 
			 Cumbria 4,916 
			 East Lancashire 2,973 
			 Manchester 10,873 
			 Merseyside 5,860 
			 North and West Lancashire 3,156 
			 North Manchester 2,894 
			 Humberside 5,392 
			 North Yorkshire 7,160 
			 South Yorkshire 3,986 
			 West Yorkshire 14,761 
			 Derbyshire 5,399 
			 Leicestershire 4,425 
			 Lincolnshire and Rutland 4,026 
			 Northamptonshire 2,224 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,659 
			 Birmingham and Solihull 9,179 
			 Black Country 4,645 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire 4,392 
			 Hereford and Worcestershire 4,875 
			 Shropshire 1,629 
			 Staffordshire 5,195 
			 Bedfordshire 1,997 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,790 
			 Essex 5,441 
			 Hertfordshire 7,100 
			 Norfolk 3,894 
			 Suffolk 2,746 
			 London 27,090 
			 Berkshire 3,146 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight (Wessex) 6,204 
			 Kent 8,063 
			 Milton Keynes, Oxon, Bucks 7,077 
			 Surrey 5,879 
			 Sussex 11,001 
			 Devon and Cornwall 9,872 
			 Dorset (Wessex) 2,659 
			 Gloucestershire 3,509 
			 Somerset 1,979 
			 West 5,699 
			 Wiltshire 4,183 
			 Total 245,342

Innovation and Growth Teams

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what feedback she has received from each sectoral innovation and growth team in relation to the impact of regulation on (a) innovation and (b) competiveness in their sectors.

Patricia Hewitt: The aim of any Innovation and Growth Team (IGT) is to identify the key issues which will shape the future of a particular industry and how the UK can best respond to the competitive challenges which it will face. In view of this, regulation, innovation and competitiveness issues are at the core of all IGTs.
	So far, IGTs covering the automotive, chemicals, environmental, aerospace and bioscience sectors have published final reports which have been placed in the Libraries of the House. IGTs covering software/digital content and electronics are still under way. A similar initiative covering the retail sector is due to lead to a final report by the Retail Strategy Group in April 2004.

Civil Partnerships Bill

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the timetable for the publication of the Civil Partnerships Bill.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 5 February 2004
	The Government hope to introduce the Civil Partnership Bill into Parliament this session.

Electricity Industry

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of projected surplus capacity of electricity supply for the next winter; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: National Grid Transco, in a January update to their 7-year statement, project a generation plant margin of between 22.7 per cent. and 22.9 per cent. for the winter of 2004–05.
	NETA places strong incentives on suppliers to contract for their customers' demand and also places strong incentives on generators to deliver the power that they have contracted to deliver.

Electricity Supply

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the non-disclosed conclusions of the report of her investigation into the power cuts that affected (a) areas of London and Kent on 28 August 2003 and (b) the West Midlands on 5 September 2003.

Stephen Timms: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on 22 January 2004, in which I explained that the conclusions and recommendations of the investigation undertaken by DTI's Engineering Inspectorate were being passed to the electricity companies concerned on a confidential basis, so that they could take the necessary action to enhance the robustness of their networks.

Electricity Supply

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether she has made requests to the Board of National Grid Transco to permit her to disclose the findings of the Engineering Inspectorate's investigation into the cause of the power cuts in London and the West Midlands last August; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: As I explained to the House on 22 January, recommendations and conclusions of the Engineering Inspectorate's investigation were being passed to the companies concerned on a confidential basis. The Engineering Inspectorate is holding confidential discussions with the companies concerned and monitoring the action theytake. In my statement I drew attention to the fact that, the material gathered in connection with the investigation is commercially sensitive and its disclosure is restricted by the provisions of the Utilities Act 2000. Those considerations continue to apply to the on-going discussions between the Engineering Inspectorate and the companies and therefore no requests have been made to the companies for agreement to disclosure.

Employment Agencies(Migrant Worker Prosecutions)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many employment agencies have (a) been (i) prosecuted and (ii) fined for offences relating to the exploitation of migrant workers under the Employment Agencies Act 1973 and (b) had allegations against them regarding the exploitation of migrant workers investigated by her Department's Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate in each of the last five years; how many persons have been banned from being associated with operating an employment agency or employment business after being prosecuted in relation to the exploitation of migrant workers in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the last five years the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate has prosecuted 24 employment agencies and prohibited 7 individuals from operating as employment agencies or employment business.
	The Inspectorate has also undertaken 5,607 investigations during the last five years.
	The records do not specify whether the work-seekers involved were migrant workers.

Employment Rights (Ministers of Religion)

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to ensure that ministers of religion have the same employment rights as other employees.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We have been considering the current coverage of employment protections as part of the Employment Status Review, including the position of the clergy; we hope to make an announcement shortly.

EU Regulations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about her request for EU Finance Ministers to commit to a timetable to eliminate wasteful regulations.

Patricia Hewitt: I discuss a wide range of business competitiveness issues with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Finance Ministers of the four member states that will hold the EU presidency in 2004 and 2005, including the UK, launched a Joint Initiative on Regulatory Reform on 26 January. This reflects the Government's priorities in this area, including simplification of EU legislation in key areas affecting business, and will reinforce the work of the Competitiveness Council which has a 'horizontal' remit to consider any EU legislation with an impact on competitiveness.
	I have placed a copy of the letter that launched the initiative in the Libraries of the House.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were employed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department in each year from 1996 to 2003.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 9 February 2004
	The average number of whole time equivalent persons employed (including senior management) during the years 1996 to 2003 was as follows:
	
		
			 Year Average number 
		
		
			 1995–96 444 
			 1996–97 397 
			 1997–98 382 
			 1998–99 359 
			 1999–2000 360 
			 2000–01 380 
			 2001–02 372 
			 2002–03 378

Faroes Vessel Claims

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many claims have been submitted to her Department under the revised deadline for vessels classed as Faroes Vessels.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department received representations that 95 vessels be considered for addition to the list of Qualifying Icelandic Water Vessels. A further 25 vessels, in respect of which appeals are currently with the scheme's Independent Adjudicator, were also considered by officials for addition to the list.

Transgenic Fish

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many patent applications are pending which relate to transgenic fish.

Patricia Hewitt: Two patent applications relating to transgenic fish are pending before the UK Patent Office. There may be others among the thousands of applications early in the application process, which have not yet been sorted into specific subject areas.

Fur Trade (Domestic Animals)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the European Union regarding an EU ban on the trade in domestic dog and cat fur.

Mike O'Brien: The UK Government's view is that any action on the issue of the alleged trade in domestic cat and dog fur would be most effective if taken at EU level. In November 2002, my noble Friend, the then Minister for International Trade and Investment publicly supported calls by the European Parliament for an EU ban on the trade in these furs. Late last year, the UK Government also supported Denmark and the Netherlands in calls for the European Commission to consider measures to put an end to any import of domestic cat and dog fur. The Government continue to be in regular contact with other interested member states to discuss what proportionate action on this issue may be appropriate at EU level.

Low-carbon Technologies

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policies she is pursuing to encourage a shift towards low-carbon technologies.

Stephen Timms: The Government are pursuing a wide range of policies and measures to encourage a shift towards low carbon technologies. These are described in the Energy White Paper "Our energy future—creating a low carbon economy" which was published in February 2003. They include giving priority to renewables, promoting energy efficiency and making the EU Emissions Trading Scheme a key part of our future market framework.
	Key measures for which the DTI is responsible include the Renewables Obligation and capital grants for renewables, clean coal technology, and carbon capture and storage.
	In addition, the Research Councils support a broad range of energy research, which will be given increased focus and coherence with the establishment of a new UK Energy Research Centre later this year.

Nuclear Waste

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much nuclear waste has been (a) imported into the United Kingdom, (b) reprocessed in the United Kingdom and (c) subsequently exported from the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The UK does not allow the import of radioactive waste, but foreign spent fuel is received in the UK for reprocessing. Details of fuel deliveries and the programming of reprocessing fuel are operational and commercial matters for BNFL and its customers, but the total amount of foreign spent fuel to be reprocessed during THORP's baseload period of operation is 4,547 tonnes.

Nuclear Waste

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many tons of radioactive waste were shipped to the United Kingdom for storage in each year since 1997; and what the projected figures are for each of the next four years.

Stephen Timms: The UK does not allow the import of radioactive waste, but foreign spent nuclear fuel is received in the UK for reprocessing. Details of fuel deliveries are operational and commercial matters for BNFL and its customers.

Nuclear Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the contract for the consultation paper on proposals for intermediate level radioactive waste substitution, published in January 2004, was put out to competitive tender; how NAC International Consultancy was chosen to prepare the document; who the other bidders were; and what account was taken of NAC International's existing contracts with BNFL in making the selection.

Stephen Timms: The DTI issued an invitation to tender (ITT) to undertake the study on Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Substitution on 18 November 2002.
	Bids were received from six companies by the due closing date of 6 December 2002. All complied with the ITT and in material respects, with all other commercial evaluation criteria laid down by the Department's procurement manual. The Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (Exemption 13 Third Party's Commercial Confidences) exempts the bidders from being named.
	NAC were selected on the basis of relevant experience, value for money and the ability to deliver a quality report to agreed timescales. NAC, together with four other companies provided statements of independence with their tenders.
	NAC is an international company providing consultancy services on a wide range of nuclear issues. We are advised by NAC that its work for BNFL amounts to around 0.3 per cent. of current turnover. Most of NAC's turnover is generated from work conducted outside of the UK.

Manufacturing Jobs (Shrewsbury and Atcham)

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many manufacturing jobs were lost in Shrewsbury and Atcham in (a) each year since 1997 and (b) each month in the last 12 months.

Jacqui Smith: The data for manufacturing jobs in Shrewsbury and Atcham for each year since 1997 are not available.
	However the figures for manufacturing job losses over the past year month by month are as follows:
	
		
			 Month Total manufacturing jobs lost Companies where lossesoccurred 
		
		
			 October 2002 129 RAPRA 
			   Leoni Wiring 
			   Eden Vale 
			 February 2003 120 Perkins Engines 
			 April 2003 132 Comau Estil 
			   Leoni Wiring 
			   Churchill and Bramhall 
			 August 2003 37 Stadco 
			   Leaf Metals 
			 September 2003 33 Scott and Newman 
			 December 2003 79 Perkins Engines 
			 January 2004 50 Doncasters 
		
	
	Source
	Job Centre Plus Telford
	Where a month is not shown no manufacturing job losses were recorded.

Offshore Call Centres

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the potential impact upon an individual's rights under UK data protection legislation arising from the move of call centres and data processing offshore.

Patricia Hewitt: Where a company established in the UK either processes personal data itself in another country or has personal data processed on its behalf under contract by a company in another country, the UK company retains full responsibility for ensuring that the processing complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. In particular, UK companies must comply with the eighth Data Protection Principle which prohibits the transfer of personal data from the UK to a country or territory outside the EEA unless that country or territory ensures an adequate level of data protection.

Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the (a) Government and (b) European Commission are taking to prevent improper support payments to contractors and sub-contractors by (a) governments and (b) government agencies competing for construction work in Britain's offshore gas and oil industries.

Stephen Timms: The EU state aid rules are intended to prevent improper payments that can distort competition in the Single Market. The rules apply impartially to funding from all member states and to all levels of government and government agencies. The European Commission is the guardian of the state aid rules and they must examine aid to ensure that it does not distort the Single Market. All aid must be notified to and approved by the European Commission before it can be granted. The Commission is also obliged to investigate any allegations of illegal aid and if necessary take action. This may include recovery action in some cases.
	The Government strongly support the state aid regime and all Government funding must be given in accordance with the rules. The Government will also bring to the Commission's attention allegations of illegal aid in other member states.

Part-time Workers

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what measures have been introduced since 1997 to improve employment rights for part-time workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Part-time Workers (Prevention of Less Favourable Treatment) Regulations 2000 introduced new rights for part-time workers ensuring that part-timers are not treated less favourably than comparable full-timers in their terms and conditions, unless it is objectively justified.
	The measures reinforce the Government's policy of putting in place decent minimum standards whilst promoting a flexible and competitive workforce.

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, how many businesses have been helped by each regional development agency; what the average sum of money received by these businesses is; how many of the businesses helped are still operating; and how many of these businesses have increased their profitability.

Jacqui Smith: pursuant to her reply, 28 January 2004, c. 376W
	Unfortunately the table referred to in the final paragraph was not provided. Following is the complete text.
	England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) help businesses both directly and indirectly through a range of activities and programmes including skills development, upgrading infrastructure and improving business competitiveness of the region in general.
	Information on how many businesses have been helped, the average sum of money received, how many are still operating, and how many have increased their profitability, is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The number of businesses added to the regional economy as a direct result of RDA activity is available for financial year 2002—2003 and is broken down by Agency in the following table. The information is also available on the DTI website at http://wwv.dti.gov.uk/rda/info/.
	
		
			 RDA Total number of new businesses added to the regional economy in 2002–03 as a direct result of RDA activities 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 170 
			 East of England Development Agency 156 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 225 
			 London Development Agency 1,368 
			 North West Development Agency 603 
			 One North East 717 
			 South East of England Development Agency 141 
			 South West Regional Development Agency 525 
			 Yorkshire Forward 826 
			 Total 4,203

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regional development agency projects are being evaluated; and when the results will be known.

Jacqui Smith: All projects undertaken by England's Regional Development Agencies go through an evaluation process once the project impact can be assessed, usually at least six months after the projects are completed. To ensure compliance with guidance issued by the Department each agency has a project performance and evaluation team which is tasked with determining the success of the project, to identify lessons to be incorporated into other projects and to improve processes. The agencies are also collectively developing a mechanism to share the outcomes of evaluations carried out.

Research Councils

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent by each of the Research Councils in each of the last six years.

Patricia Hewitt: Please see the following table for a breakdown of spend by Research Council since 1997–98.
	
		£000
		
			 Research Council 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 BBSRC 206,648 206,863 209,127 230,697 248,681 275,752  
			 CCLRC 118,624 117,819 115,015 118,345 129,019 124,158  
			 EPSRC 392,870 389,889 400,366 429,157 541,962 573,425  
			 ESRC 65,993 69,083 72,119 77,265 82,167 88,107 
			 MRC 320,115 311,513 344,383 372,753 438,057 456,566  
			 NERC 218,397 223,876 242,025 259,465 280,012 278,665  
			 PPARC 215,869 207,480 184,703 216,613 230,380 267,387 
			 Total expenditure 1,322,647 1,319,043 1,383,035 1,487,682 1,719,898 1,796,673 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures shown are sourced from the Research Councils financial accounts and exclude notional cost of capital.
	2. Figures shown are total spend by each council, financed from all sources.

Small Business

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many small businesses increased their profits above £15,000 in each year since 1997; and what the percentage change was in each year.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table gives the figures requested:
	
		
			 First year Second year Number of businesses with profits(10) , (11) above £15,000 in second year but below £15,000 in first year Percentage moving above £15, 000 of the total below £15,000 in the first year 
		
		
			 1997–98 1998–99 245,000 7.8 
			 1998–99 1999–2000 260,000 8.3 
			 1999–2000 2000–01 266,000 8.5 
			 2000–01 2001–02 284,000 9.0 
		
	
	(10) For Incorporated Businesses, profits chargeable to Corporation Tax.
	(11) For Unincorporated Businesses, Taxable Profits.

Supermarkets

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Office of Fair Trading in respect of the supermarkets' voluntary code of practice; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  when she anticipates the Office of Fair Trading will report on its inquiry into the operation of the supermarkets' voluntary code of practice.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has had no discussions so far with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) on this issue, because they are carrying out an independent review of the statutory Code of Practice governing supermarkets' relations with their suppliers. The OFT is expected to conclude its review shortly. My right hon. Friend will then decide if any action is necessary.

Textiles (Pakistan)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions her Department has had with the Pakistan Government on the export of Pakistan-produced textiles into the European Union.

Mike O'Brien: Officials in the Department have had frequent contacts with representatives of the Government of Pakistan over a Commission proposal to impose anti-dumping duties on cotton-type bed linen originating in Pakistan. At my request, the Director, Market Access met a delegation of high ranking Pakistan Government officials on 7 January 2004 and conveyed to them that the UK would oppose the Commission's proposal.

UK Coal (Aid)

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received from the National Union of Mineworkers on the suspension of investment aid to UK Coal and Kellingley Colliery; and what her response was.

Stephen Timms: The Secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers wrote to me on 20 December 2003 to express concern that UK Coal had announced reviews of three collieries shortly after being offered £36.5 million of Coal Investment Aid. The letter also expressed concern about UK Coal's plans for flexible working arrangements at Kellingley Colliery and sought to link the award of aid to UK Coal with a commitment that there would be no redundancies or colliery closures.
	In my reply of 26 January 2004, I noted the union's views. I also noted that the company had accepted the offer of up to 30 per cent. support for planned investment at five of its eight mines, including for Kellingley, and said that it would be in the best interests of everyone connected with these mines that UK Coal should be able to develop these investment plans without further delay. (I can confirm that it has since accepted the offers of aid for two of the three mines in review.) My letter also said that flexible working arrangements are a matter for UK Coal.

United Kingdom Trade

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the volume of United Kingdom trade with each of the members of the G90 was in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what the volume of United Kingdom trade with each of the members of the G33 was in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  what has been the volume of United Kingdom trade with (a) Benin, (b) Burkina Faso, (c) Chad and (d) Mali in each of the last 10 years.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2004, Official Report, column 1288W.

Wind Farms

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how her Department's energy policy takes account of the effect on grid security and stability of large-scale remote wind generation.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 6 February, Official Report, column 1098W.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Student Finance

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of families have residual incomes which would mean that their children (a) would be entitled to claim a full grant and (b) would be entitled to claim a partial grant under the terms of the Higher Education Bill, broken down by constituency.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is not available by constituency. Based on the proposals for the single combined up-front grant of £2,700 in 2006/07, as detailed in the Departmental paper "Moving toward a single combined grant for higher education", we would expect:
	around 30 per cent. of students to be entitled to a full grant (of which we expect around two thirds to be dependent students);
	a further 50–55 per cent. to be entitled to a full or partial grant.
	Future numbers and proportions of students receiving grants also depend on changes in demand for higher education and the future rate of growth of real incomes.

Student Finance

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what arrangements he intends to put in place to recover fees and loans paid for study at British universities to students from other EU countries; and what plans he has to refuse admission to other EU students unless such recovery arrangements are accepted by the countries from which they come;
	(2)  what discussions he intends to have with other EU Governments on putting in place the machinery for recovery from their country of fees and loans made to students at British universities through (a) the tax system of their country of origin and (b) the tax system of other countries in which they work.

Alan Johnson: The Student Loans Company (SLC) are responsible for ensuring repayments are made when they fall due, and have well established procedures for recovering loans from graduates living and working outside the UK. All students taking out a loan are required to sign a declaration agreeing to repay, even if they move abroad. The SLC have a range of sanctions that can be imposed on defaulters. Officials and SLC are exploring ways to ensure the most robust and effective loan recovery mechanisms are in place. There are no plans which would allow HEIs to refuse admission to EU students.

Building Schools for the Future

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will announce his decisions on the Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We aim to announce successful projects in the first wave of Building Schools for the Future shortly. A written statement will be made to Parliament. Later this year, we expect to make announcements about subsequent waves of funding.

Faith Schools

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what procedures need to be followed to open a new faith school within the state sector.

David Miliband: The procedures for opening a new faith school within the state sector are the same as for any other new school, except that faith schools must also be designated by the Secretary of State as having a religious character. Procedures will always involve consultation in the local area and an opportunity for interested parties to make representations on the proposals, but in the case of additional secondary schools, the LEA must invite others to bring forward proposals before it may publish its own proposals. Proposals brought forward by promoters may be for a maintained school or an Academy. Most proposals will be decided by the local School Organisation Committee (SOC) or the independent Adjudicator where the SOC cannot reach unanimous agreement. Those for additional secondary schools and Academies will be decided by the Secretary of State, in the light of comments by the SOC. Maintained schools proposed to have a religious character will then be designated as such by the Secretary of State.
	The SOC or Adjudicator may not approve proposals unless satisfied that any capital funding necessary for their implementation has been secured. Capital funding for most schools is provided by the LEA, but in the case of voluntary aided schools and Academies, up to 90 per cent. of the funding is provided directly by the DfES, with the promoter being responsible for the rest.

Foundation Degrees

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) women and (b) men obtained higher degrees and entered paid, full-time, permanent employment in the UK in each year since 1997, broken down by standard industrial classification of employer.

Alan Johnson: The latest available information, is taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency's First Destination Record, is shown in the table.
	
		First destination of home and EU postgraduates entering full-time paid employment in the UK
		
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 
			 Standard industrial classification Male Female Total Male Female Total Male Female Total 
		
		
			 Agriculture and forestry 42 32 74 32 23 55 24 20 44 
			 Fishing 8 2 10 2 1 3 1 1 2 
			 Mining and quarrying 152 49 201 91 40 131 17 70 87 
			 Manufacturing 1,058 591 1,649 855 574 1,429 530 740 1,270 
			 Electricity, gas and water supply 130 73 203 85 69 154 4884 132 78 
			 Construction 92 22 114 84 25 109 19 71 90 
			 Wholesale and retail trade 189 164 353 133 133 266 119 113 232 
			 Hotels and restaurants 16 24 40 27 22 49 25 14 39 
			 Transport, storage and communication 290 130 420 262 113 375 148 258 406 
			 Financial activities 555 281 836 494 237 731 250 448 698 
			 Property development, renting, business and research 2,089 1,232 3,321 1,998 1,238 3,236 1,307 1,903 3,210 
			 Public administration and defence 845 769 1,614 821 800 1,621 735 777 1,512 
			 Education 4,718 8,980 13,698 4,157 9,018 13,175 9,005 4,189 13,194 
			 Health and social work 555 991 1,546 381 828 1,209 851 361 1,212 
			 Other community, social and personal service activities 227 336 563 270 318 588 361 234 595 
			 Private households with employed persons 1 4 5 1 2 3 1 1 2 
			 International organisations and bodies 2 10 12 10 10 20 14 4 18 
			 Not known 87 69 156 102 79 181 49 61 110 
			 Total 11,056 13,759 24,815 9,805 13,530 23,335 13,504 9,349 22,853 
		
	
	
		
			2000/01   2001/02 
			 Standard industrial classification Male Female Total Male Female Total 
		
		
			 Agriculture and forestry 18 13 31 16 20 36 
			 Fishing 1 1 2 2 1 3 
			 Mining and quarrying 91 39 130 27 70 97 
			 Manufacturing 684 447 1,131 447 599 1,046 
			 Electricity, gas and water supply 78 40 118 53 72 125 
			 Construction 61 28 89 39 82 121 
			 Wholesale and retail trade 112 143 255 167 154 321 
			 Hotels and restaurants 26 24 50 38 26 64 
			 Transport, storage and communication 219 119 338 108 167 275 
			 Financial activities 514 251 765 245 425 670 
			 Property development, renting, business and research 1,832 1,351 3,183 1,154 1,620 2,774 
			 Public administration and defence 830 957 1,787 958 873 1,831 
			 Education 4,106 9,897 14,003 11,348 4,687 16,035 
			 Health and social work 318 884 1,202 865 375 1,240 
			 Other community, social and personal service activities 243 322 565 369 206 575 
			 Private households with employed persons 0 1 1 2 0 2 
			 International organisations and bodies 3 8 11 13 15 28 
			 Not known 36 37 73 17 20 37 
			 Total 9,172 14,562 23,734 158,686 9,412 25,280

Higher Education

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the consolidation of the £170 million funding to support higher education institutions' human resources policies into the main teaching fund will be in addition to the annual teaching fund grant increases for 2004–05 and 2005–06.

Alan Johnson: The £170 million Rewarding and Developing Staff initiative funding for 2003–04 will be consolidated into the block teaching grant from 2004–05 onwards. This funding is in addition to the annual teaching fund increases for 2004–05. The figures for 2005–06 have not yet been announced.

Higher Education

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate was made in the regulatory impact assessment of the total cost to a higher education institution (HEI) of pursuing the new proposals, ring-fenced funds and initiatives which will require payments to be made by HEIs.

Alan Johnson: The regulatory impact assessment published on 8 January alongside the HE Bill includes details of the costs of the proposals in the Bill and the associated package of improvements in student support.
	In November, we announced the mainstreaming of four ring fenced funds into larger funding allocations ('Golden Hellos', the Promising Researcher Fellowship Scheme, Additional Capital for leading research institutions and Knowledge Exchanges). We continue to monitor the number of special funding allocations to ensure that they are appropriately targeted and that demands on institutions are proportionate to the sums involved.

Higher Education

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list proposals in the Higher Education White Paper which have subsequently been dropped by the Government.

Alan Johnson: In light of responses to the consultations on the higher education White Paper, published in January 2003, a number of adjustments have been made to the White Paper proposals, which are now being carried forward through the Higher Education Bill and in other ways. We have decided not to incentivise the demand for Foundation Degrees; and not to ask the Office for Fair Access to have a role in ensuring that admissions procedures are fair, professional and transparent.

Schwartz Review

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will publish the report of the Schwartz Review on University Admissions.

Alan Johnson: I expect to receive Professor Schwartz's report by summer 2004, and that the recommendations will be published shortly afterwards.

Special Educational Needs

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Gloucestershire (a) are statemented, (b) receive special educational needs support in mainstream schools and (c) attend special schools; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 6 February 2004
	In January 2003, the most recent data available, there were 2,730 pupils in Gloucestershire who had a statement of special educational needs. The number of pupils attending special schools was 1,060. For those children who were identified as having special educational needs but did not have a statement, 7,180 were educated in mainstream primary and 4,900 were educated in mainstream secondary education.

Value Added Measures

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the value added between Key Stage 3 and GCSE/GNVQ would have been if the results of specialist schools had been excluded for (a) Durham, (b) Newcastle upon Tyne, (c) South Tyneside, (d) Salford, (e) Blackpool, (f) Knowsley, (g) Liverpool, (h) St Helens, (i) Sefton, (j) North East Lincolnshire, (k) Kingston-upon-Hull, (l) Doncaster, (m) Leeds, (n) Leicestershire and (o) Reading local education authorities.

David Miliband: The table following shows the 2003 Key Stage 3 to GCSE/GNVQ Value Added measures for each of the local education authorities when (1) Specialist schools are included and (2) Specialist schools are excluded. Figures are based on maintained schools only:
	
		2003 key stage 3 to GCSE/GNVQ value added measures
		
			   (1) Specialist schools included  (2) Specialist schools excluded 
			 Local education authority KS3-GCSE/GNVQ VA measure Number of schools KS3-GCSE/GNVQ VA measure Number of schools 
		
		
			  
			  
			 (a) Durham 97.2 (47) 97.3 (27) 
			 (b) Newcastle-upon-Tyne 97.3 (16) 96.7 (8) 
			 (c) South Tyneside 97.6 (17) 97.0 (15) 
			 (d) Salford 97.4 (17) 97.1 (14) 
			 (e) Blackpool 97.2 (12) 96.0 (8) 
			 (f) Knowsley 96.6 (16) 96.8 (13) 
			 (g) Liverpool 97.4 (45) 96.2 (29) 
			 (h) St Helens 96.9 (16) 96.4 (11) 
			 (i) Sefton 97.7 (28) 97.5 (21) 
			 (j) North East Lincolnshire 97.3 (14) 97.9 (9) 
			 (k) Kingston-upon-Hull 97.1 (19) 96.5 (15) 
			 (l) Doncaster 96.9 (25) 97.1 (16) 
			 (m) Leeds 97.4 (52) 96.9 (31) 
			 (n) Leicestershire 97.0 (24) 96.7 (12) 
			 (o) Reading 97.8 (9) 97.3 (7) 
		
	
	These figures represent the results of one particular cohort of pupils, showing their value-added over the two years leading up to GCSE. School and LEA figures are also available in the school performance tables covering pupil value-added over the three years leading up to KS3. Similar information for each of these key stages was also published for the 2002 cohorts. Any assessment of whether particular schools or types of school are more effective than others should take into account this wider picture, as well as recognising that small differences in VA scores may not indicate significant differences in effectiveness.

TREASURY

EDS

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what amount EDS has been liable in penalties to the Inland Revenue in each year since 1998–99; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Financial Remedy Credits payable by EDS to the Inland Revenue in the period referred to were as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 282,313 
			 1999–2000 313,771 
			 2000–01 53,839 
			 2001–02 25,912 
			 2002–03 14,622 
			 2003–04 105,420 
		
	
	The years given run from 1 April to 31 March.

Higher Education Spending

Tim Collins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his plans for higher education spending in the forthcoming Public Spending Review.

Paul Boateng: The Government will continue to be supportive of higher education institutions in future Spending Review Settlements—world-class universities are an essential element of a competitive economy.

Invest to Save

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  when the next round of bidding for the Invest to Save budget will take place;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the future of the Invest to Save budget.

Paul Boateng: I am considering the future direction of the Invest to Save budget. An announcement on whether a further round of bidding will take place in due course.

Pensioners (Taxation)

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of pensioners paying income tax at (a) the higher rate and (b) the basic rate for each year since 1996–97; and what percentage of (i) all pensioner taxpayers and (ii) all pensioners this figure represents in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) on 2 July 2002, Official Report, column 288W. Final estimates for the years 2000–01 are in the following table.
	
		
			  2000–01 
		
		
			 Number of pensioner(12) taxpayers (thousands)  
			 (a) higher rate 220 
			 (b) basic rate 2,970 
			   
			 (i) Percentage of all pensioner taxpayers  
			 (a) higher rate 5 
			 (b) basic rate 64 
			   
			 (ii) Percentage of all pensioners(13)  
			 (a) higher rate 2 
			 (b) basic rate 28 
		
	
	(12) Men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over.
	(13) Mid-year population estimates supplied by the Office for National Statistics.
	Note:
	The estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes 2000–01.

Pensions (Tax Relief)

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will estimate the amount of tax relief on pension contributions provided in each financial year since 1996–97 (a) in total and (b) broken down by (i) higher rate taxpayers, (ii) basic rate taxpayers and (iii) non-taxpayers;
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of taxpayers receiving pension tax relief at (a) the higher rate and (b) the basic rate in each year since 1996–97; and what percentage of all taxpayers below state pension age these figures represent in each case.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 9 February 2004
	Estimates of total tax relief on pension contributions from 1998–99 to 2002–03 are contained in table T7.9 of Inland Revenue Statistics. The latest version is on the Inland Revenue website: http://www.inlandrevenue. gov.uk/stats/pensions/03IR079.pdf
	Estimates prior to 1998–99 are contained in table 7.7 of 'Inland Revenue Statistics 2000', a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.
	Estimates of relief attributable and numbers of taxpayers receiving tax relief by marginal rate band for all the years specified in the question are not readily available. However, broad estimates of the proportion of relief and number of taxpayers receiving relief split between higher rate and others are given in the following table. The number of taxpayers below state pension age in 2002–03 is estimated at around 24½ million.
	
		Percentage of tax relief on individual and employee pension contributions with the number of taxpayers receiving relief, 2002–03
		
			 Marginal income taxrate Percentage of tax relief Number of taxpayers receiving relief 
		
		
			 Non-higher rate 45 13 million 
			 Higher rate 55 2½ million 
		
	
	Note:
	Estimates are provisional and based on the 2000–01 Survey of Personal Incomes projected to 2002–03.

Pirate Videos/DVDs

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) value of pirate (i) videos and (ii) DVDs seized by Customs and Excise since 1 January 2003; what the titles of the videos and DVDs were; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: In 2003 HM Customs and Excise seized a total of 342,612 DVDs to the value of £5,223,629 and a total of 1,151 videos to the value of £10,003. Information about the titles of these videos and DVDs is not held centrally. Statistics for seizures under Intellectual Property Rights legislation are published by the European Commission.

Pirate Videos/DVDs

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of the sale of pirate (a) videos and (b) DVDs at (i) car-boot sales, (ii) record fairs, (iii) markets, (iv) online auctions and (v) other premises since 1 January 2003.

John Healey: No such estimates have been made.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many departures from child support maintenance have been requested by non-resident parents in each year since 1997; and how many of these were granted.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Barrett, dated 11 February 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked how many departures from child support maintenance have been requested by non-resident parents in each year since 1997; and how many of these were granted.
	The Agency does not distinguish between requests for departures from child support maintenance from non-resident parents and parents with care and we do not hold any figures relating to departures prior to April 1998. The figures that we do hold are shown in the table below:
	
		
			 Year ending Total applications received Total applications granted 
		
		
			 1999 16,868 3,162 
			 2000 14,147 4,393 
			 2001 22,912 7,049 
			 2002 21,128 8,196 
			 2003 20,700 7,508 
		
	
	I hope this is helpful.

Disability Employment Advisers

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the turnover rate for disability employment advisers was in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available in the format requested, as figures are not collected centrally. However, we estimate there are currently around 650 Disability Employment Advisers employed by Jobcentre Plus.

SchlumbergerSema

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many SchlumbergerSema examining medical practitioners have been (a) struck off and (b) reprimanded for their work for his Department.

Maria Eagle: Since 2000, a total of 80 doctors working for Medical Services have had approval to carry out assessments on behalf of the Department revoked, on the grounds that they have failed to meet the required professional standards despite remedial action.
	Medical Services' approach is to train and support their doctors to ensure the expected standards are being met. Inappropriate behaviour or quality standards are addressed with feedback and remedial training. Where remedial action fails to effect change, approval to carry out assessments will be formally revoked.
	Where a doctor's professional misconduct falls outside the General Medical Council's (GMC's) professional guidelines, this is brought to the GMC's attention by Medical Services.

Social Fund

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide additional assistance to those families on low incomes who receive a Social Fund (a) grant and (b) loan where the amount awarded is insufficient to cover basic household goods.

Chris Pond: Community Care Grants, Crisis Loans and Budgeting Loans are part of the discretionary Social Fund. They are designed to provide extra help for the most vulnerable people in society, helping them meet unexpected and more routine needs. The Discretionary Social Fund net budget will be increased by 19 per cent. in April 2004 and by a further 23 per cent. in April 2005.
	As the Discretionary Social Fund is cash limited decision makers may not always be able to award the full amount that a person has asked for; however they will always consider individual circumstances when making an award.
	If a person believes that the grant or loan is not sufficient to meet their needs they have the right to ask for the decision to be reviewed, first by their local office and, if they disagree with the outcome, the Independent Review Service. There are no current plans to change this procedure.

Widowers (Access to Benefits)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the claims of widowers bereaved before 9 April 2001 for equal access to benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Bereavement Benefits were introduced in April 2001, for the first time extending support to both widows and widowers.
	Prior to April 2001, there was no statutory basis on which to pay widows' benefits to men. This is being contested in both domestic and European courts. Until the litigation is completed and all the judgments are known regarding the different aspects of the claims, it is not possible to determine what action may be taken in response.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Crown Court Trials (National Security Issues)

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether it is possible in a Crown court trial involving national security for (a) a jury to be vetted prior to being empanelled and (b) part or all of the trial to be held in camera.

Christopher Leslie: I can confirm that it is possible for a jury to be vetted and for all or part of the trial to be held in camera in cases involving national security.

Laganside Courts Complex

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether problems at the Laganside courts complex in Belfast with (a) water ingress and (b) sight lines for juries have been resolved; and what (i) abatements and (ii) financial settlements have been applied.

Christopher Leslie: The problems with (a) water ingress and (b) sight lines for juries have been resolved. Abatements totalling £4,226.84 have been applied in respect of the later ingress. A financial settlement in respect of alterations carried out to improve sight lines for juries has yet to be agreed.

Laganside Courts Complex

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the public sector comparator for the Laganside courts Private Finance Initiative scheme in Belfast has been revised following the disposal of the Crumlin Road courthouse.

Christopher Leslie: No.

Laganside Courts Complex

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many major water leaks have occurred at the Laganside courts complex in Belfast.

Christopher Leslie: Eleven water leaks have occurred, only one of which are considered to be major.

Lord Chief Justice

David Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what proposals he has for changes in the role and responsibilities of the Lord Chief Justice; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I gave on 26 January on the judiciary-related functions of the Lord Chancellor. The Government will introduce legislation shortly to abolish the Office of Lord Chancellor.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which government departments and law enforcement agencies are represented on the cross-departmental working group looking into Part 12 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001; how often the working group meets; what the remit of the working group is; and who is responsible for the group.

Paul Goggins: The Metropolitan Police chairs an ad-hoc steering group which meets as required to monitor implementation of part 1 2 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. It keeps under review a Memorandum of Understanding in the light of experience. The following Government Departments and Law Enforcement Agencies are represented in addition to the Metropolitan Police: City of London Police (also representing the Association of Chief Officer Police Officers (ACPO)), the Crown Prosecution Service, Serious Fraud Office, National Criminal Intelligence Service, National Crime Squad, MoD Police, Department of Trade and Industry, UK trade and investment, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Export Credits Guarantee Department, the Department for International Development and the Home Office.

DNA Database

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many DNA profile matches exist within the UK national DNA database.

Hazel Blears: The figures relating to the DNA profile matches reported by the National DNA Database since its inception in April 1995 to January 2004 inclusive are described as follows:
	a total of 459,903 matches have been reported between DNA profiles obtained from individuals and DNA profiles collected from unsolved crime scenes; and
	a total of 28,116 scene-to-scene matches have been reported between DNA profiles collected from unsolved crime scenes.

Drugs Offences

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests have been made, (b) convictions have been obtained and (c) cautions have been issued in each police force area in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available for offences relating to (i) possession of and (ii) dealing in (A) Class A, (B) Class B and (C) Class C drugs.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 9 February 2004
	Data on the number of persons arrested for possession and dealing of drugs by police force area are currently not available. However, we do have the figures for the number of persons cautioned and found guilty for possession and dealing of drugs by police force area for 2002. These are set out in the following tables.
	The information is taken from the Home Office Court Proceedings and Cautions Database and relates to persons cautioned and found guilty for possession and dealing in drugs.
	
		Table 1: Number of persons cautioned and convicted for possession of controlled drugs in England and Wales by Police Force Area, 2002
		
			  Class A Class B Class C 
			 Force Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty 
		
		
			 England   
			 Avon and Somerset 171 192 1,005 306 3 4 
			 Bedfordshire 7 62 104 80 1 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 71 100 339 108 0 3 
			 Cheshire 43 161 331 518 0 1 
			 Cleveland 48 267 267 434 1 1 
			 Cumbria 60 101 354 205 0 2 
			 Derbyshire 16 166 114 252 1 5 
			 Devon and Cornwall 103 361 814 596 4 2 
			 Dorset 31 195 283 319 2 2 
			 Durham 54 123 439 316 5 6 
			 Essex 64 167 616 598 1 1 
			 Gloucestershire 127 128 461 239 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 164 381 1,608 1,245 4 7 
			 Hampshire 154 285 960 315 1 371 
			 Hertfordshire 85 84 530 287 0 0 
			 Humberside 33 98 277 320 6 13 
			 Kent 85 289 888 905 2 6 
			 Lancashire 127 391 900 874 2 4 
			 Leicestershire 6 221 100 380 0 6 
			 Lincolnshire 22 154 218 261 0 2 
			 London, City of 31 23 448 55 1 0 
			 Merseyside 111 288 1,072 1,377 12 1 
			 Metropolitan Police 595 2,361 10,612 5,795 31 9 
			 Norfolk 43 150 358 278 1 1 
			 Northamptonshire 66 60 440 73 1 3 
			 Northumbria 603 461 1,898 1,315 25 20 
			 North Yorkshire 5 77 50 155 0 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 39 275 429 351 0 2 
			 South Yorkshire 78 376 422 672 2 5 
			 Staffordshire 209 194 1,071 258 2 2 
			 Suffolk 58 98 417 230 5 1 
			 Surrey 44 103 757 330 0 0 
			 Sussex 180 177 1,129 441 4 3 
			 Thames Valley 142 334 867 712 2 3 
			 Warwickshire 41 55 290 80 0 2 
			 West Mercia 153 141 906 211 6 1 
			 West Midlands 228 861 2,218 1,794 5 8 
			 West Yorkshire 156 583 1,015 956 1 2 
			 Wiltshire 18 104 192 181 0 0 
			 Wales   
			 Dyfed Powys 109 168 1,300 514 3 11 
			 Gwent 34 147 636 272 5 3 
			 North Wales 95 119 707 308 5 1 
			 South Wales 54 336 640 1,223 5 17 
			
			 England and Wales total 4,563 11,417 38,482 26,139 149 533 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Number of persons cautioned and convicted for possession of controlled drugs in England and Wales by month, 2002
		
			  Class A Class B Class C 
			 Month Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty 
		
		
			 January 361 1,093 2,836 2,238 12 64 
			 February 323 1,043 2,722 1,984 12 45 
			 March 422 909 3,058 2,081 12 48 
			 April 348 978 3,129 2,101 12 31 
			 May 346 995 3,428 2,478 14 41 
			 June 393 824 3,059 1,827 6 48 
			 July 424 995 3,677 2,387 15 49 
			 August 374 906 3,157 2,180 22 28 
			 September 352 880 3,372 2,054 8 44 
			 October 405 1,025 3,425 2,565 9 53 
			 November 410 986 3,303 2,362 15 45 
			 December 405 783 3,316 1,882 12 37 
			 Annual 4,563 11,417 38,482 26,139 149 553 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Number of persons cautioned and convicted for the dealing(14) of controlled drugs in England and Wales by month, 2002
		
			  Class A Class B Class C 
			 Month Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty 
		
		
			 January 14 583 81 331 2 5 
			 February 18 590 72 327 3 5 
			 March 19 580 86 287 1 2 
			 April 14 542 75 298 0 10 
			 May 11 620 97 310 4 7 
			 June 22 417 74 258 7 9 
			 July 25 583 120 358 5 5 
			 August 19 448 113 338 0 9 
			 September 12 464 117 378 5 10 
			 October 13 483 104 360 3 13 
			 November 22 591 108 332 1 8 
			 December 17 420 86 268 0 5 
			 Annual 206 6,321 1,133 3,845 31 88 
		
	
	(14) Dealing includes; unlawful production, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply and unlawful import or export.
	
		Table 4: Number of persons cautioned and convicted for the dealing(15) of controlled drugs in England and Wales by Police Force Area, 2002
		
			  Class A Class B Class C 
			 Force Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty Cautioned Guilty 
		
		
			 England   
			 Avon and Somerset 5 122 52 75 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 55 10 23 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 3 63 6 41 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 102 2 43 0 1 
			 Cleveland 9 126 17 50 0 5 
			 Cumbria 1 56 7 37 0 2 
			 Derbyshire 2 136 10 57 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 4 137 65 126 0 0 
			 Dorset 2 55 9 37 0 0 
			 Durham 1 66 4 56 0 4 
			 Essex 2 96 14 91 0 1 
			 Gloucestershire 21 36 41 17 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 1 316 44 254 16 5 
			 Hampshire 12 117 46 108 2 2 
			 Hertfordshire 3 61 15 42 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 115 21 60 0 5 
			 Kent 12 123 23 106 0 1 
			 Lancashire 0 254 27 115 0 2 
			 Leicestershire 0 71 1 68 0 1 
			 Lincolnshire 1 40 17 36 1 0 
			 London, City of 1 10 3 5 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 241 7 64 0 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 33 1,423 179 720 0 6 
			 Norfolk 3 60 16 54 0 1 
			 Northamptonshire 7 37 1 27 0 0 
			 Northumbria 10 193 44 136 4 12 
			 North Yorkshire 1 52 13 52 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 130 25 84 1 1 
			 South Yorkshire 1 145 10 94 0 2 
			 Staffordshire 3 123 11 74 0 1 
			 Suffolk 0 35 40 42 1 0 
			 Surrey 3 55 37 32 0 1 
			 Sussex 2 379 38 154 2 0 
			 Thames Valley 1 129 19 104 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 1 27 11 20 0 0 
			 West Mercia 3 100 41 56 1 1 
			 West Midlands 13 301 47 237 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 31 333 63 113 1 23 
			 Wiltshire 0 55 13 30 0 1 
			 Wales   
			 Dyfed Powys 6 63 44 71 0 1 
			 Gwent 3 61 17 42 1 2 
			 North Wales 1 45 12 46 0 0 
			 South Wales 2 177 11 146 1 7 
			
			 England and Wales total 206 6,321 1,133 3,845 31 88 
		
	
	(15) Dealing includes; unlawful production, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply and unlawful import or export.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what correspondence Home Office Ministers have (a) received from and (b) sent to members of the Firearms Consultative Committee during (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

Caroline Flint: Members of the Committee are appointed on a personal basis and there has been no correspondence with them in that capacity. The Chairman wrote on behalf of the Committee on 28 April 2003 to express views about certain aspects of the Anti-social Behaviour Bill. A reply was sent on 5 June.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to his Department was of convening meetings of the Firearms Consultative Committee since its inception.

Caroline Flint: A total of £14,534 has been spent on running the Firearms Consultative Committee since March 2000. Information on the cost of meetings before that date is not available from current records.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list (a) recommendations made by the Firearms Consultative Committee and (b) actions taken by his Department in response to its recommendations.

Caroline Flint: The Firearms Consultative Committee has produced a large number of recommendations since its inception and these are summarised in each of their annual reports, copies of which are in the Library. Many of their recommendations were dependent on changes in legislation and will be considered in the context of the forthcoming review.

Firearms Consultative Committee

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the most recent members of the Firearms Consultative Committee, indicating the companies or organisations they work for.

Caroline Flint: Membership of the Firearms Consultative Committee as at 31 January was as follows:
	
		
			 Name Company/organisation 
		
		
			 David Penn (Chairman) Imperial War Museum 
			 Brian Carter British Shooting Sports Council 
			 Brian Dalton The Royal Society for the Protection of Animals 
			 Sandy Ewing National Shooting Centre Ltd. 
			 Mark Fuchter HM Customs and Excise 
			 Alan Green Assistant Chief Constable, Greater Manchester Police 
			 William Harriman British Association for Shooting and Conservation 
			 David Henderson Scottish Executive Justice Department 
			 John Hoare National Small-Bore Rifle Association 
			 Patrick Johnson British Shooting Sports Council 
			 Mike Lobb Firearms licensing Officer Thames Valley Police 
			 Gill Marshall-Andrews Chair of the Gun Control Network 
			 David Mellor Deputy Chief Constable Fife Constabulary 
			 Kevin O'Callaghan Forensic Science Services Firearms Section 
			 Bob Pitcher London Proof House 
			 Mark Scoggins Fisher Scoggins LLP Solicitors 
			 Professor Jonathan Shepherd University of Wales College of Medicine 
			 Madeleine Swainbank The Defence Manufacturers Association. 
			 Simon Taylor Assistant Chief Constable, Norfolk Constabulary 
			 Graham Widdecombe Home Office, Public Order and Crime Issues Unit

Firearms Consultative Committee

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the appointment of successor committees to the Firearms Consultative Committee.

Caroline Flint: We are aiming to do so by the end of March.

Forensic Science

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes have been solved by the use of forensic science in each of the forensic science service laboratories in England and Wales in each of the last three years.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to provide figures for the number of crimes that have been solved by the use of forensic science as convictions are achieved through integrated criminal investigation and not by forensic science alone. The contribution that forensic science makes to criminal investigation has been assessed separately for:
	(a) DNA analysis
	(b) non-DNA analysis (for example toxicology and analysis of trace evidence such as fibres, glass etc.).
	The Home Office collects data on the number of crimes that have been detected, where DNA match report was available. However, it is important to note that the availability of DNA intelligence in the crime may not have been causal in solving the crime.
	The total number of crimes in which a DNA match report was available that were detected for police forces in England and Wales were as follows:
	
		
			  Number of crimes in which a DNA match was available 
		
		
			 2000–01 14,785 
			 2001–02 15,894 
			 2002–03 21,098 
		
	
	No data are available on "DNA detections" for each FSS laboratory.
	(a) Non-DNA analysis
	The contribution of forensic science in the provision of both intelligence and evidence to criminal investigations has been evaluated internally by the Forensic Science Service (FSS). Such assessment is based on the number of cases where the FSS has judged its contribution to be effective. This information has only been recorded from April 2003-January 2004 inclusive, and is set out for each FSS laboratory in the table following.
	
		
			 FSS laboratory Number of evidential cases where the FSS has judged its contribution to be effective Number of intelligence cases where the FSS has judged its contribution to be effective 
		
		
			 Birmingham 3,030 19,536 
			 Chepstow 1,741 238 
			 Chorley 3,680 768 
			 Huntingdon 1,448 9,960 
			 London 3,557 1,837 
			 Wetherby 2,645 686 
			 Overall(16) 16,103 (77 per cent.) 33,025 (80 per cent.) 
		
	
	(16) Percentage figures relate to the total number of cases submitted in the stated period for 'evidential' or 'intelligence' casework.

Forensic Science

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long DNA samples are held by the Forensic Science Service.

Hazel Blears: Retention periods depend on the purpose for which the sample was taken, and are as follows:
	Crime scene samples on unsolved cases may be kept indefinitely, especially for the more serious cases. For crime scene samples on solved cases the usual retention period is seven years, but it may be up to 30 years for the serious cases in the event of a possible miscarriage of justice and to capitalise on new scientific developments.
	Following amendment of Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 by the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 samples of suspects can now be held indefinitely.
	Where individuals have volunteered to provide samples for intelligence purposes these may also be retained indefinitely provided the individual has given their written consent for its retention.

Forensic Science

Harold Best: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the storage of DNA samples by the Forensic Science Service.

Hazel Blears: The laboratories that analyse DNA samples, including those within the Forensic Science Service, are also responsible for their retention, integrity, security and, where appropriate, their destruction. The conditions under which these laboratories store such samples must fulfil the requirements of the International Quality Standard ISO 17025 and the Data Protection Act 1998.
	In addition, it is a specific requirement of the Custodian of the National DNA Database that DNA samples taken for entry on to the Database are kept in a managed storage system at a temperature below -15oC in access-controlled, physically secure accommodation. Laboratories are required to undertake periodic monitoring of the samples and their compliance with the International Quality Standard ISO 17025 is independently audited at least annually by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted of offences involving graffiti in each of the past 10 years.

Hazel Blears: It is not possible to distinguish offences of graffiti from other types of criminal damage in the Home Office figures for court proceedings as the circumstances of individual offences are not collected centrally.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to tackle graffiti in urban areas.

Hazel Blears: A key element to the Government's drive to tackle antisocial behaviour in public places is to enforce local standards and tackle the abuse of our environment that makes public places a magnet for anti-social behaviour and crime.
	The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduces a package of measures to prevent graffiti and to ensure that it is removed swiftly when it does occur. It also gives local authorities the power to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for graffiti and fly posting. This means offenders will have to pay a £50 penalty or be prosecuted through the courts.
	The TOGETHER campaign places the focus on action within the heart of our communities and provides them with the opportunity to work together to tackle graffiti including a national database which will record graffiti tags, a poster campaign across transport networks which will target the most prolific graffiti 'taggers' and a pilot of 12 areas which will use new powers that enable local authorities to issue clean up notices to owners of street furniture.

Identity Card

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if, as part of the consultation for draft legislation on National Identity Cards, he will seek views on the advisability of incorporating Braille identifiers;
	(2)  what research has been carried out by his Department on the possibility of incorporating Braille in a proposed National Identity Card; what estimate he has made of the likely costs; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government will welcome views on how Braille identifiers could be incorporated into the National Identity Cards scheme which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced on 11 November 2003. We have no plans to carry out any specific research at this stage.
	The Government propose to proceed incrementally by setting up a National Identity Register and making current widely held identity documents such as passports more secure. In determining how Braille identifiers might be incorporated into such documents, the Government will need to adhere to agreed international standards governing their format.

Lancashire Police Force

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the crime clear-up rates in Lancashire police force area broken down by (a) constituency and (b) local authority area in each year since 2000.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the tables. Figures for crimes detected by the police are not broken down by constituency or local authority areas. However, they are available at Basic Command Unit (BCU) level. BCUs broadly equate to former police divisions or districts. In Lancashire, BCUs do not correspond with local authorities. There are six BCUs, compared to 14 local authority areas.
	Detection figures for recorded crime offences are available at BCU level for five key offences only; violence against the person, robbery, burglary in a dwelling, theft of a motor vehicle, and theft from a vehicle.
	
		Detection rates for all crime, recorded by Lancashire Police
		
			  Offences detected (percentage) 
		
		
			 1999–2000(17) 29 
			 2000–01(18) 27 
			 2001–02(18) 26 
			 2002–03(18) 27 
		
	
	(17) Revised Home Office instructions, which clarified the recording of detections, were introduced on 1 April 1999. These instructions provided more precise and rigorous criteria for securing a detection, with the underlying emphasis on the successful result of a police investigation. As a result of the revised detections guidance (in which some previous methods of detection were no longer counted), the numbers of crimes detected, and figures derived from them, will have been affected.
	(18) Detection figures may also have been affected by the adoption of the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS), as this may have affected the number of crimes recorded. The NCRS was officially implemented across England and Wales in April 2002. Lancashire Police adopted the Standard prior to this, in August 2000.
	
		Basic Command Unit—Detection rates recorded for five key offences, by Lancashire Police from 1999–2000 to 2002–03
		
			  Violence against the person detection rate: 
			 Basic Command Unit/Police force 1999–2000 (percentage) 2000–01 (percentage) 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Central 80 75 56 56 
			 Lancashire Eastern 80 67 61 56 
			 Lancashire Northern 75 67 61 62 
			 Lancashire Southern 80 75 67 72 
			 Lancashire Western 74 67 60 55 
			 Pennine 83 78 67 70 
		
	
	
		
			  Robbery detection rate: 
			 Basic Command Unit/Police force 1999–2000 (percentage) 2000–01 (percentage) 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Central 35 25 30 29 
			 Lancashire Eastern 23 28 30 35 
			 Lancashire Northern 46 35 19 36 
			 Lancashire Southern 29 45 17 33 
			 Lancashire Western 21 14 22 27 
			 Pennine 33 25 22 28 
		
	
	
		
			  Burglary dwelling detection rate: 
			 Basic Command Unit/Police force 1999–2000 (percentage) 2000–01 (percentage) 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Central 17 18 19 17 
			 Lancashire Eastern 21 15 22 21 
			 Lancashire Northern 15 18 16 19 
			 Lancashire Southern 17 16 15 20 
			 Lancashire Western 13 19 20 16 
			 Pennine 14 13 17 19 
		
	
	
		
			   Theft of a motor vehicle detection rate: 
			 Basic Command Unit/Police force 1999–2000 (percentage) 2000–01 (percentage) 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Central 17 19 19 22 
			 Lancashire Eastern 18 17 18 17 
			 Lancashire Northern 15 20 19 23 
			 Lancashire Southern 13 15 15 20 
			 Lancashire Western 16 13 16 22 
			 Pennine 17 13 14 20 
		
	
	
		
			  Theft from a motor vehicle detection rate: 
			 Basic Command Unit/Police force 1999–2000 (percentage) 2000–01 (percentage) 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Lancashire 
			 Lancashire Central 8 7 7 9 
			 Lancashire Eastern 11 5 8 8 
			 Lancashire Northern 7 6 8 6 
			 Lancashire Southern 9 8 9 7 
			 Lancashire Western 8 8 4 7 
			 Pennine 8 5 8 11 
		
	
	Note:
	See notes for previous table

Ministerial Police Protection

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many Ministers receive protection from the police; and what the cost to public funds is in this financial year;
	(2)  how many former Ministers receive protection from the police; and what the cost to public funds was in the last year for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: We seek to ensure the most effective and efficient protective security arrangements for public figures in the light of the changing threat from terrorism and other continuing risks. It is not our policy to comment on the details of protection arrangements for individuals, as to do so could compromise their security.

Official Secrets Act

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) average and (b) longest time between (i) arrest and charge and (ii) charge and start of trial has been in cases brought since 1997 under the Official Secrets Act.

David Blunkett: Data on the average and longest time between (i) arrest and charge and (ii) charge and start of trial for offences under the Official Secrets Act are not available centrally.

Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many press officers were employed in his Department in (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; and what estimate he has made of the cost in each year.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 19 January 2004
	Press office numbers and costs are as outlined as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  Number of press officers Cost 
		
		
			 2002–03 (1 April 2002) 39 (19)1.7 
			 2003–04 (1 April 2003) 39 (20)1.9 
		
	
	(19) Actual.
	(20) Estimate to end of March 2004.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total prison capacity in each of the next 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Average useable operational capacity 
		
		
			 2004 75,000 
			 2005 77,100 
			 2006 78,700 
			 2007 78,700 
			 2008 78,700 
			 2009 78,700 
			 2010 78,700 
			 2011 78,700 
			 2012 78,700 
			 2013 78,700 
		
	
	The figures given in this table are the average useable operational capacity projected to 2006 and beyond. Useable operational capacity is the measure used for long-term estate planning purposes. It is the total number of prisoners that establishments can hold taking into account control, security and the proper operation of the planned regime. It is determined by operational managers on the basis of their operational judgment and experience.
	The maximum number of prisoners that the state could normally hold, as the average operational capacity, is up to 2,000 less than the total certified operational capacity. This is because of constraints imposed by the need to provide separate accommodation for different classes of prisoner i.e. by sex, age, security category and conviction status, single cell risk assessment and also due to geographical distribution.
	Two new prisons will open at Ashford, in June 2004, and Peterborough, in March 2005, and funding has also been provided for around 3,000 additional public sector prison places to be built at existing prisons by 2006. This will increase the total useable capacity of the prison estate to around 78,700. There are no plans or funding at present to increase useable capacity beyond this figure.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are serving custodial sentences of (a) less than 12 months and (b) over 12 months, broken down by nationality and gender.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 10 February 2004
	The number of prisoners serving custodial sentences in prisons in England and Wales on 30 November 2003, by nationality, gender and length of sentence, is shown in the table.
	
		Sentenced prisoners by length of sentence, nationality and gender—30November 2003
		
			  Females Males 
			  Less than 12 months 12 months or more Less than 12 months 12 months or more 
		
		
			 Africa 
			 Algeria 0 0 16 37 
			 Angola 2 1 5 22 
			 Botswana 0 0 0 1 
			 Burundi 1 0 0 1 
			 Cameroon, United Republic 0 0 0 1 
			 Central African Republic 0 0 1 4 
			 Chad 0 0 0 1 
			 Congo 1 0 8 23 
			 Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) 0 0 1 5 
			 Democratic Republic of Congo 0 0 4 18 
			 Egypt 0 0 0 6 
			 Ethiopia 0 0 5 6 
			 French Guiana 0 0 0 2 
			 Gambia 0 0 1 14 
			 Ghana 4 8 8 72 
			 Guinea 0 0 0 3 
			 Guinea/Bissau 0 0 1 0 
			 Kenya 0 2 3 31 
			 Liberia 1 1 1 3 
			 Libya 0 0 3 8 
			 Malawi 0 1 2 3 
			 Mali 0 0 0 1 
			 Mauritania 0 0 0 1 
			 Mauritius 0 0 1 6 
			 Morocco 0 0 2 19 
			 Mozambique 0 0 0 1 
			 Namibia 0 0 0 1 
			 Nigeria 6 47 21 164 
			 Rwanda 0 0 0 5 
			 Sao Tome and Principe 0 0 0 1 
			 Senegal 0 0 0 2 
			 Seychelles 0 0 1 1 
			 Sierra Leone 1 1 1 23 
			 Somalia 1 1 20 102 
			 South Africa 1 15 6 77 
			 Sudan 0 1 3 8 
			 Tanzania 0 0 0 4 
			 Togo 0 1 1 3 
			 Tunisia 0 0 0 5 
			 Uganda 0 0 6 29 
			 Zambia 1 1 1 7 
			 Zimbabwe 0 1 17 24 
			  
			 Asia 
			 Bangladesh 2 1 15 88 
			 Bhutan 0 0 0 1 
			 China 0 3 3 52 
			 Hong Kong 0 0 4 3 
			 India 1 7 17 118 
			 Indonesia 0 0 0 4 
			 Japan 0 0 0 1 
			 Korea Republic of (South) 0 2 0 5 
			 Lao People's Dem Republic 0 0 1 0 
			 Malaysia 0 0 2 4 
			 Mongolia 0 0 0 1 
			 Nepal 0 0 1 0 
			 Pakistan 0 5 24 233 
			 Philippines 1 1 2 10 
			 Singapore 0 1 0 1 
			 Sri Lanka 0 1 11 34 
			 Surinam 0 1 0 2 
			 Thailand 0 3 0 1 
			 Vietnam 1 4 3 21 
			  
			 Central/South America 
			 Argentina 1 0 0 5 
			 Bolivia 0 0 0 4 
			 Brazil 0 8 0 14 
			 Chile 0 1 1 14 
			 Colombia 0 4 1 76 
			 Costa Rica 0 1 0 1 
			 Ecuador 0 0 0 2 
			 Guatemala 0 0 0 1 
			 Mexico 0 1 0 5 
			 Nicaragua 0 0 0 1 
			 Panama 0 0 0 2 
			 Peru 0 1 0 4 
			 Venezuela 0 5 0 28 
			 Europe 
			 Albania 0 0 12 24 
			 Armenia 0 0 0 3 
			 Austria 0 1 1 1 
			 Belgium 0 2 5 19 
			 Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 0 0 4 
			 Bulgaria 0 1 2 1 
			 Croatia 0 0 0 2 
			 Cyprus 0 0 1 49 
			 Czech Republic 1 0 2 9 
			 Denmark 0 2 0 7 
			 Estonia 0 0 2 1 
			 Finland 0 0 0 1 
			 France 0 11 7 54 
			 Germany 0 15 3 61 
			 Gibraltar 0 0 0 2 
			 Greece 0 3 1 17 
			 Hungary 0 0 0 11 
			 Irish Republic 3 20 63 430 
			 Italy 0 5 10 71 
			 Latvia 0 t 2 5 
			 Lithuania 0 1 4 16 
			 Malta 0 1 2 10 
			 Moldova 1 0 7 6 
			 Netherlands 2 26 3 155 
			 Norway 0 0 0 2 
			 Poland 1 4 3 24 
			 Portugal 0 8 18 55 
			 Romania 0 7 12 22 
			 Russian Federation 1 0 8 20 
			 Serbia and Montenegro 1 1 10 45 
			 Slovakia 0 0 1 3 
			 Slovenia 0 0 0 3 
			 Spain 0 15 4 56 
			 Sweden 0 1 1 1 
			 Switzerland 1 3 0 4 
			 Turkey 2 0 12 143 
			 Turkmenistan 0 0 1 0 
			 United Kingdom 585 2,142 6,940 43,761 
			 Uzbekistan 0 0 1 0 
			  
			 Middle East 
			 Afghanistan 0 0 8 19 
			 Bahrain 0 0 0 1 
			 Iran 2 0 10 37 
			 Iraq 0 0 15 57 
			 Israel 0 1 1 7 
			 Jordan 0 0 0 3 
			 Kuwait 0 0 1 0 
			 Lebanon 0 1 1 10 
			 Saudi Arabia 0 0 0 6 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 0 0 2 2 
			 United Arab Emirates 0 1 0 5 
			 Yemen 0 0 0 4 
			  
			 North America 
			 Canada 0 3 4 17 
			 United States of America 2 18 3 49 
			  
			 Oceania 
			 Australia 1 2 4 18 
			 French Southern Territories 0 0 0 2 
			 Kiribati 0 0 0 1 
			 New Zealand 0 2 0 6 
			 Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 1 
			 West Indies 
			 Anguilla 0 0 0 1 
			 Aruba 0 0 0 1 
			 Bahamas 0 0 0 3 
			 Barbados 0 2 0 21 
			 Bermuda 0 0 0 1 
			 Cuba 0 0 0 2 
			 Dominica 0 0 2 4 
			 Dominican Republic 0 1 1 7 
			 Grenada 0 1 2 9 
			 Guyana 0 3 2 11 
			 Haiti 0 0 0 1 
			 Jamaica 3 298 38 1,723 
			 Montserrat 0 2 0 8 
			 Netherlands Antilles 0 3 0 7 
			 St. Christopher and Nevis 0 1 0 0 
			 St. Kitts and Nevis 0 2 0 3 
			 St. Lucia 0 0 1 14 
			 St. Vincent and The Grenadines 0 0 1 3 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 0 25 2 56 
			 Virgin Islands 0 0 0 1 
			  
			 Not recorded 0 12 50 209

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports of suspicious transactions reported to the National Criminal Intelligence Service since the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 came into effect have provided information related to the offence of bribery of a foreign public official.

Caroline Flint: Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 reports on potential money laundering, known as 'Suspicious Activity Reports', are made to the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS). NCIS do not keep information on the types of offence underlying the reports, which will often only become clear following further investigation by the relevant law enforcement agencies. The information requested about the number of Suspicious Activity Reports made relating to the bribery of foreign officials is therefore not available.
	Suspicious Activity Reports would only be one source of information on such matters. A member of staff of NCIS' International Division acts as the point of contact for the monitoring of all allegations of bribery of foreign officials.

Public Servants (Wrongdoing)

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what processes are available to public servants to raise concerns about serious wrongdoings by other public servants if they have reason to believe that their disclosure is in the public interest.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Government established an arrangement under which Departments, including the Home Office and its agencies, nominate an official or officials outside line management to whom civil servants are able to report concerns in confidence, under the Civil Service Code.
	The Civil Service Code in its current form was introduced with effect from 1 January 1996, and revised and re-issued in May 1999. It offers an independent line of appeal to the Civil Service Commissioners, where an individual feels that his/her concern has not received a reasonable response.

Recruitment Advertising

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on recruitment advertisements in the press, broken down by publication, by (a) his Department, (b) quangos under the Department and (c) non-departmental Government bodies under the Department (i) in the last year and (ii) since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: Information about the total spend on recruitment advertisements for the Home Office, including the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, for the years 2000 701, 2001–02 and 2002–03 is shown in the table. Figures for the current year are not yet available.
	The Home Office uses Job Centres and a wide variety of publications to advertise posts—including local, minority ethnic and the national press. A breakdown of the publications used could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office does not routinely collect information about the recruitment advertising costs for quangos or non-departmental government bodies under the Department.
	
		Costs of recruitment advertising for the Home Office 2000–2003
		
			  Spend on advertising (£) 
		
		
			  Home Office (non-IND) 
			 2000–01 1,166,154 
			 2001–02 826,056 
			 2002–03 513,269  
			  Immigration and Nationality Directorate 
			 2000–01 141,926 
			 2001–02 519,610 
			 2002–03 413,829 
			   
			 Total  
			 2000–01 1,308,080 
			 2001–02 1,345,666 
			 2002–03 927,098

Special Constables

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special constables there were in each London borough on 1 January of each of the last six years.

Hazel Blears: There are no statistics published centrally on the number of Special Constables at local authority level or by Basic Command Unit. Statistics relating to the total number of Special Constables in the City of London and the Metropolitan Police District are given in the table.
	
		Special Constable strength
		
			 Strength as at31 March London,City of Metropolitan police Total 
		
		
			 1998 76 1,282 1,358 
			 1999 64 1,138 1,202 
			 2000 56 758 814 
			 2001 43 774 817 
			 2002 36 680 716 
			 2003 42 692 734 
		
	
	All forces have been given funding for dedicated staff and initiatives to help implement good practice and recruit more Special Constables over the next 2–3 years. We are also running a national recruitment campaign, including television advertisements, starting on the 9 February, to coincide with the 2 National Specials Weekend on the 28–29 February.

Speed Cameras

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many motorists were banned from driving for a period as a result of being caught by (a) speed and (b) red light cameras in (i) 1997, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2002.

Caroline Flint: Information for England and Wales for the years 1997 and 2000 is given in the table. 2002 data will be available in the spring.
	
		Driving licence disqualifications(21) imposed at all courts for offences detected by camera, England and Wales, 1997 and 2000
		
			  1997 2000 
		
		
			 Speed offences(22) 675 1,417 
			 Traffic light offences(23) 33 39 
		
	
	(21) Excludes persons disqualified under section 35 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (penalty points system).
	(22) Offences under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and The Motor Vehicles (Speed Limits on Motorways) Regulations 1973.
	(23) Offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 and The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1984.

Speed Cameras

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what differences there are in the calibration of speed cameras between police authority areas; and whether all authorities apply a 10 per cent. and 2 mph allowance over the speed limit before a fixed penalty or prosecution is initiated.

Caroline Flint: All cameras are required to detect and record the speed of passing vehicles within specified degrees of accuracy. Until July 2003 the standard was a positive error of no more than 3mph up to 100mph, and 3 per cent. above 100mph. The negative error was not greater than 5mph or 10 per cent. above 50mph. From July 2003, in line with European standards, new speed cameras will be required to be accurate to ±2mph up to 66mph and ±3 per cent. above 66mph. This has not yet been implemented for existing cameras, but we consider that all cameras are in fact already accurate to this level.
	The enforcement of speed limits on the basis of information provided by the cameras is an operational matter for chief officers of police. The Association of Chief Police Officers has published guidelines on speed enforcement thresholds to support a transparent and consistent approach, while recognising that not all speeding offences are the same. The police retain discretion to take account of the particular circumstances of any particular speeding incident.
	All police forces follow the guidelines, which are publicly available on the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) website (www.acpo.police.uk)

NORTHERN IRELAND

Paramilitary-style Assaults

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to eradicate paramilitary-style assaults on the civil population of Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Government utterly condemn all paramilitary violence and acts of intimidation and remains resolute in its determination to see these brought to an end. We continue to call on those with influence over paramilitary groups to call a complete end to these barbaric attacks. This is also an area that the recently appointed Independent Monitoring Commission will regularly report on as part of their overall remit.

Parades Commission

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the work of the Parades Commission.

Jane Kennedy: The year 2003 witnessed the most peaceful marching season for some considerable time. I pay tribute to the Parades Commission who have played an important role in tackling the difficult task in considering and issuing determinations with regard to contentious parades.

Organised Crime Taskforce

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the work of the Organised Crime Taskforce.

Jane Kennedy: The partner agencies of the Organised Crime Task Force continue to make a real impact in frustrating, disrupting and dismantling the organised crime gangs in Northern Ireland. Since 1 January 2004, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has seized cannabis valued at £2.75 million and Customs officers have seized 7 million contraband cigarettes.

11-Plus (Reform)

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the reform of the 11-plus in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: New post-primary arrangements in Northern Ireland will address the weaknesses of the current transfer and post-primary arrangements. They will put pupils at the centre, provide them with more relevant knowledge and skills needed for life and work in the 21st Century and raise standards for all.

Devolved Government

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in securing agreement to restore Devolved Government in Northern Ireland.

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his negotiations with Northern Ireland political parties for the commencement of political institutions.

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of power sharing in the Province.

Paul Murphy: I refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave earlier to the hon. Member for East Londonderry, Official Report, column 1396.

Arms Decommissioning

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on arms decommissioning.

Jane Kennedy: To date there have been four acts of decommissioning carried out by paramilitary organisations, one by the Loyalist Volunteer Force and three by the Provisional IRA. The latest decommissioning act was carried out by the IRA on 21 October 2003. The arms comprised light, medium and heavy ordnance and associated munitions. They included automatic weapons, ammunition, explosives and explosive material. The quantity of arms involved was larger than the quantity put beyond use in the previous event.

Belfast City Airport

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has received an application from Belfast City airport to review the present operational planning agreement.

Angela Smith: Following the publication of the recommendations for Northern Ireland in the Government's White Paper, The Future of Air Transport, the Department of the Environment's Planning Service received a request from Belfast City airport on 19 January 2004 to review the form of the current planning agreement. This is now under consideration.

Domestic Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Home Department in relation to the extension of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill to Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy: The decision to extend certain provisions of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill to NI was taken following the Northern Ireland Office's consultation exercise on tackling domestic violence, "Tackling Violence at Home" which closed on 12 December. This consultation exercise revealed widespread public support for the domestic violence provisions which are being extended to Northern Ireland. In addition the Bill includes provisions relating to trial by jury of sample counts only, which had initially been intended for inclusion in the Criminal Justice Act 2003.
	Both, my right hon. Friend the Member for Warley (Mr. Spellar), Minister of State with responsibility for Crinminal Justice matters and I have corresponded at length with the Home Secretary regarding the application of provisions to Northern Ireland. Throughout this process, both my officials have been in close contact with colleagues in the Home Office regarding policy development in respect of this Bill, in order to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland are afforded the same degree of protection as in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the terms were of the contract entered into between the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency and RoMaha for the PFI to upgrade MOT centres in Northern Ireland under project MOT2; and if he will make a statement on the implementation of the project.

Angela Smith: The contract entered into by the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency required the concessionaire, Romaha, to
	"design, build, finance, install, maintain, repair and where necessary substitute and/or replace vehicle testing equipment and to provide all necessary training in respect of the operation of such equipment" to meet current needs, and specified future needs in vehicle testing.
	The contract, which was signed on 26 March 2001, called for promulgation of the project to all 15 Agency sites on a rolling basis over a two-year period. A plan was developed between the Agency and Romaha to ensure this was carried out effectively and to minimise disruption to the public. This plan included individual and overall timetables for completion. The contractor adhered rigidly to the timescale, and the rollout programme was completed on 19 September 2003.
	Romaha provides a service against the contract for which DVTA pays an agreed unitary payment for this. Particularly poor performance can attract penalty points leading ultimately to contract termination, but the contractor's performance to date has attracted no penalty points. The parties are currently working to improve throughput, which is not yet at the anticipated level. The Agency is also working with the contractor to introduce a number of additional testing requirements catered for in the output specification.

Estate Wardens

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many estate wardens have been appointed by the Housing Executive in Northern Ireland to date; and for which areas.

John Spellar: There are 52 staff in post, including one agency worker and there are four vacant posts distributed as follows:
	
		
			 Area Number 
		
		
			 Antrim 1 
			 Armagh (24)2 
			 Ballymena 3 
			 Banbridge 1 
			 Bangor 2 
			 Belfast Office 2 1 
			 Belfast Office 7 (24)1 
			 Belfast Offices (1, 3, 4, 5, and 6) (25)10 
			 Carrickfergus 1 
			 Castlereagh 1 
			 Coleraine 1 
			 Cookstown 1 
			 Downpatrick 1 
			 Dungannon 2 
			 Enniskillen (Fermanagh District Office) 1 
			 L'Derry (Collon Tce., Waterloo Pl., Waterside) 5 
			 Larne 1 
			 Limavady 1 
			 Lisburn (Antrim St. and Diary Farm) (24)3 
			 Lurgan/Brownlow (24)1 
			 Magherafelt 1 
			 Newry 1 
			 Newtownabbey Office 1 and 2 4 
			 Newtownards 1 
			 Omagh 1 
			 Portadown 2 
			 Strabane 2 
		
	
	(24) Plus one vacancy
	(25) Two each

Homelessness

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases from ethnic minority backgrounds were identified by the Housing Executive as homeless on the grounds of intimidation in 2003; and in which geographical areas they were re-housed.

John Spellar: During the 12 month period from 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003 a total of 30 cases from ethnic minority backgrounds presented to the Housing Executive as homeless on grounds of intimidation. Of the 30 cases, 17 were accepted as homeless as a result of intimidation and eligible for housing assistance. Nine of these are either in temporary accommodation or have made their own arrangements for accommodation and eight were permanently re-housed in the following areas:
	Belfast—4
	Newry—2
	Lisburn and North Down—1 each
	The remaining 13 who presented as homeless either abandoned their application or were ineligible for assistance under immigration or homeless legislation.

Horseracing

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was paid in levy by bookmakers in Northern Ireland to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; how much of that levy in each year was transferred to Horseracing Ireland; and how much Horseracing Ireland spent in each year in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: Charges paid by bookmakers in Northern Ireland to the Horse Racing Fund (which is controlled and managed by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) in each of the last three years were as follows:
	
		
			  Amount (£) 
		
		
			 2003 351,531 
			 2002 354,083 
			 2001 341,928 
		
	
	The Horse Racing (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 specifies to whom, and for what, payments may be made out of the Fund. Payments are not made to Horseracing Ireland. Horseracing Ireland is a body constituted in the Republic of Ireland. My Department is not aware of how much it spent in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Hospital Waiting Times

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to reduce the number of patients who wait on a trolley longer than two hours for a hospital bed once they have been admitted to hospital.

Angela Smith: I am very aware of the current pressures on our hospital services, with some patients having to wait on trolleys before they can be admitted. During the time that patients wait on trolleys they receive all of the appropriate medical and nursing care that they need.
	The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is taking forward a regional initiative to improve hospital admissions and patient flows through our hospitals. I am also working to increase capacity at key hospitals and by July 2004 the number of hospital beds will have increased by over 100 compared to the same time last year.

NHS Trusts (Working Time Directive)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action will be taken against NHS trusts which fail to ensure their posts are compliant with the European Working Time Directive by August 2004.

Angela Smith: The European Working Time Directive is being introduced on a phased basis from August 2004 for doctors in training, and places a legal obligation on both employers and employees to comply with these regulations. All HPSS Boards and Trusts here are making significant efforts to put measures in place to achieve compliance with this Directive, as it currently stands, and my Department is continuing to increase the numbers of medical staffing in both consultant and training grades so that there is increased activity and improved patient care.
	In recognition of the limiting effects of these regulations, the European Commission recently launched a public consultation across all member states on the implications of the Working Time Directive and subsequent rulings. This may lead to change in some of the requirements and, until the final requirements are clear, any action on failure to comply can not be determined at this stage.

Public Administration Review

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the timetable is for the Review of Public Administration in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The current consultation exercise on the Review of Public Administration is due to end on 27 February 2004. I am discussing with the local political parties how best to progress the review after the end of the consultation period.

Special Educational Needs

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that children with special educational needs have those needs met in the education sector in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: Some 10,600 pupils in Northern Ireland have statements of Special Educational Need (or attend Special Schools and are in the process of being statemented). The vast majority of these pupils have their Special Educational Needs (SEN) met within Northern Ireland. Currently there are only 34 pupils whose SEN are met outside Northern Ireland.
	Most of these 34 pupils have sensory impairments or behavioural difficulties/autism and attend very specialist provision elsewhere to meet their needs, where the placements are in accordance with the wishes of the parents.
	A Sub group of the Education and Library Boards' Regional Strategy Group for Special Education is currently considering the range of local provision required to meet the needs of hearing impaired pupils. The Department is represented on this Sub group.
	The proposed Centre of Excellence for Autism in Middletown will aim to enhance local training for schools and teachers and educational intervention for pupils with autism.

Tennants Textiles Colours Plant

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the risks to the health and safety of the local community on the lower Ravenhill Road, Belfast arising from the continued operation of the Tennants Textiles Colours plant; what restrictions have been placed on future developments in the area; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) has conducted rigorous health and safety inspections of the Tennants Textiles Colours factory site to ensure compliance with the Control of Major Accident Hazard Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (COMAH). These Regulations implement the European Community Directive 96/82/EC and require stringent controls on companies such as Tennants Textile Colours who store, use or handle specified dangerous substances above defined quantity thresholds.
	The company has been fully co-operative in complying with the necessary safety requirements and as such, any risk to the health and safety of the local community on lower Ravenhill Road is considered to be minimal.
	All future development proposals in the immediate vicinity of the site are subject to land-use assessment in accordance with UK wide land-use planning guidelines for COMAH sites. HSENI has determined planning consultation zones for the land surrounding the site and advises the Planning Service on proposed developments within these zones. HSENI advice is based on a consideration of the type of development, the status and number of occupants and its proposed location relative to the Tennants Textiles Colour site. In general, HSENI will advise the Planning Service against proposals for new developments that would introduce large or vulnerable populations to the immediate vicinity of the site. This approach, and the methodologies used are consistent across the United Kingdom.

Trading Standards

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the initial public response to the consumer line recently launched by Trading Standards.

Ian Pearson: I am very pleased with the success to date of Consumerline, which went live on 3 November 2003. In the period from its commencement to 31 January 2004 it has dealt with more than 7,000 inquiries from the general public. This compares with 2,950 inquiries for the same period in 2002–03 under the previous advice service to consumers.

Warm Homes Scheme

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what resources have been made available in Northern Ireland to assist the implementation of the Warm Homes Scheme in the past three years.

John Spellar: The Warm Homes Scheme is funded by the Department for Social Development (DSD) but also benefits from a contribution from the Northern Ireland Electricity's (NIE) customer levy. The combined resources allocated during the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year DSD (£) NIE (£) Total (£) 
		
		
			 2001–02 4,300,000 679,000 4,979,000 
			 2002–03 7,952,000 1,670,000 9,622,000 
			 2003–04 10,650,000 1,600,000 12,250,000

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Airwave Emergency Communications Network

Huw Edwards: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that local planning authorities follow planning guidance in determining applications for consent to build radio transmitters for the Airwave emergency communications network.

Keith Hill: Current planning guidance for all electronic communication developments is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8). It is for the local planning authority to decide whether to allow specific development to proceed. This will be done in the light of relevant planning policy guidance, the local development plan and any representations made to the authority. If anyone has a complaint about how the council has handled a planning matter or if anyone is dissatisfied by the council's response and thinks they have suffered an injustice, it is open to them to ask the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate whether there has been maladministration.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also published the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development on 11 November 2002. Arrangements to monitor the operation of the Code are being set up.

Decent Homes

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps he is taking to ensure that local authority housing departments rated at two stars and above have sufficient resources to meet the decency standard in a timely manner, where tenants vote to remain with their council landlord.

Keith Hill: All local authorities, regardless of performance, have four options that can be used singly or in combination to deliver the decent homes target. These are: retain the stock and use their existing resources to bring the stock up to the standard, or where a local authority requires additional resources it can choose from stock transfer, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) or setting up an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO). For three of these (retention, ALMO, PFI) the council remains the landlord.
	To secure additional resources through an ALMO they must be awarded two stars. There are no plans to provide additional resources to housing authorities with two stars or above outside of these options.

Decent Homes

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 748, when he expects that council houses remaining in the ownership and management of local authorities will meet the decency standard; and if he will make available the resources necessary to achieve his estimate.

Keith Hill: Local housing authorities that have not already taken advantage of stock transfer, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) or setting up an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) for all of their housing stock must complete an appraisal of the options available to deliver decent homes, including stock retention, by July 2005. Until this process is complete it will not be possible to state how many authorities will decide that stock retention in terms of ownership and management is the best option for delivering decent homes. Local authorities will only be able to choose this option if they have sufficient resources from mainstream housing funding to deliver by 2010. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to make additional resources available outside of the three additional investment options—stock transfer, PFI and ALMO.

Graffiti

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what strategies his Department has developed to encourage the removal of graffiti from (a) public and (b) private buildings;
	(2)  what new programmes for urban renewal include programmes to remove graffiti;
	(3)  what steps his Department takes to encourage local authorities to remove graffiti.

Keith Hill: Through "Sustainable Communities: Building for the Future", the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is investing £201 million to improve local liveability and create decent places. A key element of this supports action to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) including the removal of graffiti from public spaces and buildings. The cross Government liveability programme is also supported by the Home Office's 'together' national action plan on tackling ASB, which includes measures for tackling graffiti such as Shop 'em and Stop 'em projects.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is also extending local authority powers to deal with environmental problems such as graffiti, fly-tipping and fly-posting. For example, the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 includes powers to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for graffiti, enabling local authorities to issue such notices to people who commit 'minor' acts of graffiti and to allow all local authorities to retain income from Fixed Penalty Notices issued for graffiti for use in local environmental improvements. These measures will be introduced shortly.
	Its up to private building owners to remove graffiti from their property, however local authorities can assist if necessary. The Home Office, through its 'together' action plan, will be piloting the use of new powers in 12 pilot areas, which will enable local authorities to charge back the cost of cleaning up street furniture to the owner.
	In addition, by banning the sales of spray paints to under 16s we are trying to reduce the incidences of graffiti.

HMOs

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations his Department has received from (a) Universities UK and (b) individual vice chancellors about whether higher education halls of residence should fall within the scope of a mandatory houses in multiple occupation licensing scheme.

Keith Hill: In the 1999 Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) consultation representations were received from the following academic institutions supporting the proposal to exclude higher education halls of residence from the mandatory HMO licensing scheme: Universities UK, the Universities of Newcastle, Lancaster, Wales and the domestic bursars of Oxford Christ Church. Those who did not support the exemption included Sheffield, Manchester, North Staffordshire and Swansea.

HMOs

Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of houses in multiple occupation which fall within the scope of the proposed mandatory licensing scheme within the Housing Bill.

Keith Hill: The Government estimate that about 120,000 Houses in Multiple Occupation will be subject to licensing under the mandatory scheme proposed in the Housing Bill. It is estimated that between 360,000 to 450,000 dwellings will be covered by the scheme.

Housing

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what standards have been established for the Government's plans for the redevelopment of the Thames Gateway in respect of (a) the residential density of new housing developments, (b) the proportion of development land that is expected to be previously-developed land, (c) design quality, (d) construction quality standards, (e) the accessibility of new housing to local amenities, (f) public transport accessibility and (g) the use of sustainable construction methods.

Keith Hill: For the Thames Gateway and elsewhere:
	(a) (b) Planning Policy Guidance note 3 (PPG3) has introduced a series of tough new measures designed to meet the country's future housing needs in the most sustainable way possible. This includes a sequential approach which gives priority to re-using brownfield sites in urban areas in preference to developing Greenfield sites. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has a national target that, by 2008, 60 per cent. of additional housing should be provided on previously developed land and through conversions of existing buildings. One of the key features of the Thames Gateway as a suitable location for sustainable development is the presence of a substantial reservoir of brownfield land. In the period 1997–2000 an estimated 80 per cent. of new dwellings in the Gateway were built on previously developed land. The targeted investment now being mobilised through funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Department for Transport, Regional Development Agencies aims to maintain this trend by increasing the viability and potential development density on key sites in the Gateway. PPG3 also encourages housing development that makes more efficient use of land (between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare) and seeks greater intensity of development at places with good public transport accessibility.
	(c) Planning Policy Guidance note 1 (PPG1) requires that
	"good design should be the aim of all those involved in the development process and should be encouraged everywhere".
	This policy is supported by our good practice guidance "By Design".(d) (g) all new homes have to comply with the requirements of the Building Regulations so that they are healthy, safe, energy efficient, and accessible by disabled people. In addition, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's increased funding for the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) will allow it to provide greater support to delivering high quality, sustainable housing. CABE is establishing a Housing Quality Forum to disseminate best practice within the growth areas (including the Thames Gateway) and together with the House Builders Federation and Civic Trust has developed a Building for Life Standard to incentivise house builders to improve their product.
	(e) (f) Government planning policy (in particular Planning Policy Guidance note 13) is to promote accessibility to local amenities by public transport, walking and cycling. In his statement on 30 July 2003, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister identified public transport infrastructure projects that are critical to supporting growth in the Thames Gateway. These included projects to improve strategic links within the Gateway through the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL) and to improve public transport capacity and connections in major development locations through extensions to the Docklands Light Railway network and bus transit systems for East and South-East London and Kent Thameside. Since this statement, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport has approved a consultation exercise by the Strategic Rail Authority on a proposed Integrated Kent Franchise that incorporates CTRL domestic services to Stratford and Ebbsfleet. An informal offer of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) credits to enable the Mayor to take forward the multi-modal Thames Gateway Bridge proposal has also been made.

Housing

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average residential density of housing developments given planning permission since March 2000 is in (a) Bexley, (b) Barking and Dagenham, (c) Greenwich, (d) Hackney, (e) Lewisham, (f) Newham, (g) Havering, (h) Tower Hamlets, (i) Waltham Forest, (j) Thurrock, (k) Basildon, (l) Castle Point, (m) Southend-on-Sea, (n) Rochford, (o) Medway, (p) Dartford, (q) Gravesham and (r) Swale local authority areas; and what the average residential density of such developments across all these boroughs is.

Keith Hill: Information relating to the average residential density of housing developments given planning permission in these local authorities since March 2000 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All Local Planning Authorities within the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, are obliged to keep information relating to the determination of planning applications within their area of operation.

Housing

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what standards new housing to be built in communities envisaged in the Thames Gateway will be required to meet in respect of (a) schools, (b) health care facilities, (c) leisure facilities and (d) open spaces.

Keith Hill: For the Thames Gateway and elsewhere, Government planning policy (in particular Planning Policy Guidance 13) is to promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking and cycling.
	In addition, the Social Exclusion Unit's "Making the Connections" report, published in February 2003, sets out a strategy to help people on low incomes access work, food shops and key public services, notably education and healthcare. This includes the approach of accessibility planning in those areas that produce a Local Transport Plan, where local transport planners and others work together to examine accessibility needs and how to overcome barriers. Accessibility planning is currently being piloted and various accessibility indicators are under consideration.

Housing

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the purpose is of merging housing associations within the Greater London area.

Keith Hill: This is a matter for the Housing Corporation but in general terms there are four sets of circumstances in which housing associations merge.
	The first, and by far the most common, is where two or more associations conclude, of their own volition, that they can provide better or more services by coming together.
	The second is where an association which is in breach of the Corporation's Regulatory Code concludes that the best or only way of resolving its problems is by joining another association with the necessary skills and resources.
	The third is where, after a Statutory Inquiry has found mismanagement or misconduct in the affairs of the association, the Corporation's Board has the power to direct, with the consent of the Secretary of State, the association to transfer its land and property to another association of the Corporation's choosing.
	In the event of an insolvency, the Corporation has the power to make proposals as to the future ownership and management of the land held by an RSL, which is designed to secure its continued proper management by another RSL. Any such proposals would have to be agreed by all the secured creditors.

Housing Stock Transfers

Ken Purchase: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his oral answer of 4 February 2004, Official Report, column 748, if he will list (a) local authorities which have held ballots of tenants in the process of transferring stock to other ownership or management bodies and (b) those which have not.

Keith Hill: A ballot has been held for all Large Scale Voluntary Transfers of local housing stock to Registered Social Landlords. Details of the results in each case are on the housing transfer page of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website. The table following shows the methods used by local authorities for measuring tenant support for Arms Length Management Organisations.
	
		Methods used by local authorities for measuring tenant support for Arms Length Management Organisations
		
			  
		
		
			  Operational ALMOs (i.e. Those who have received s.27 consent) 
			 Ballot held  
			 Round 1 Derby, Hounslow, Kirklees, Rochdale, Stockton-on-Tees 
			 Round 2 Barnsley, Carrick, Colchester, Leeds East, Leeds North East, Leeds North West, Leeds South East, Leeds South, Leeds West, Waltham Forest 
			 Round 3 High Peak, South Lakeland 
			 Other test of opinion used  
			 Round 1 Ashfield, Westminster, Wigan 
			 Round 2 Blyth Valley, Bolton, Brent, Cheltenham, Hillingdon, Kensington and Chelsea, Oldham, Salford (since withdrawn) 
			 Round 3 Gateshead, Solihull, Warrington 
			  Approved ALMOs but not yet operational (i.e. those awaiting s.27 consent) 
			 Ballot held  
			 Round 3 Camden (since withdrawn), Islington, Sheffield (partial) 
			 Other test of opinion used  
			 Round 3 Barnet, Easington, Harrow, Newcastle, Poole 
			 Current ALMO bids  
			 Ballot held  
			 Round 4 Hammersmith and Fulham 
			 Ballot proposed  
			 Round 4 Nottingham, Sheffield (partial), Slough 
			 Other test of opinion proposed  
			 Round 4 Bassetlaw, Brent (partial), Bury, Ealing, Eastbourne, Manchester (partial), Newark and Sherwood, Rotherham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton

Local Government Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what methodology he used in his calculation that South Bucks District Council is receiving an increase of 3.4 per cent. in its grant for 2004–05.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister first calculated the amount of grant authorities would have received in 2003–04 on a like-for-like basis with 2004–05 i.e. the amount that an authority would have received had the transfers in funding and function relating to 2004–05 had occurred a year earlier. More detailed information on the calculation of the adjusted 2003–04 grant amounts can be found on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/0405/adipaps.pdf
	The results of these calculations for South Bucks were as follows:
	Adjusted 2003–04 redistributed business rates—£2,160,712
	Adjusted 2003–04 Revenue Support Grant—£304,107
	Adjusted 2003–04 Formula Grant—£2,464,819
	The amount of grant authorities will receive in 2004–05 was then calculated in accordance with the Local Government Finance Report (England) 2004–05. The results of these calculations for South Bucks were as follows:
	2004–05 redistributed business rates—£1,682,020
	2004–05 Revenue Support Grant—£868,280
	2004–05 Formula Grant—£2,550,300
	The change in grant between 2004–05 and 2003–04 on a like-for-like basis was then calculated as follows:
	2004–05 Formula Grant—Adjusted £2003–04 Formula Grant
	=£2,550,300–£2,464,819
	£85,481 or 3.468 per cent.

Pathfinder Projects

Peter Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on progress of each of the housing renewal pathfinder projects.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has now announced funding for three pathfinders. These are £125 million for Manchester Salford in October 2003 and more recently £69 million (plus £4 million early wins money) for Newcastle Gateshead and £86 million (plus £4 million early wins money) for Merseyside. These three schemes are now tasked to deliver their proposals up to March 2006.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has now received strategic schemes from the South Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Oldham Rochdale pathfinders. These schemes are now being assessed by officials while being independently scrutinised by the Audit Commission. Negotiations on their proposals have commenced but it is not yet known when they will conclude. Strategic schemes from the remaining pathfinders are due in over the next few months with announcements following in due course.

Pathfinder Projects

Peter Pike: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he expects to make an announcement on the Elevate Housing Renewal Pathfinder Project Programme Bid.

Keith Hill: Elevate East Lancashire's market renewal scheme was submitted on 31 December 2003. Negotiations with Elevate East Lancashire on its proposals have commenced but it is not yet known when they will conclude.

Phone Masts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many phone masts there are in (a) the UK, (b) Lancashire and (c) Chorley; and how many are shared between operators in each of those areas.

Keith Hill: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, during September and October every year the mobile network operators write to every local authority with details of their network rollout for the year ahead. When they write to the local authority they also provide details of their existing sites within the local authority area. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the network operators for copies of their plans.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on devolved government in the regions.

Nick Raynsford: In the 2001 Manifesto the Government made a commitment that provision should be made for directly elected regional government to go ahead in regions where people decided in a referendum to support it and where predominantly unitary local government is established.
	The Government's proposals for establishing elected assemblies in those English regions that want them, and for improving existing arrangements in all regions, were set out in "Your Region, Your Choice: Revitalising the English Regions (CMS511)" which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published in May 2002.
	The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 provides for referendums and associated local government reviews. My right Hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced in June 2003, following a soundings exercise, that the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber regions would be the first regions to progress towards a referendum for an elected assembly. Local Government reviews are under way in those regions. When the Boundary Committee have presented their recommendations orders in Parliament for referendums will be laid.
	If there is a "yes" vote, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will need to introduce further legislation to provide for assemblies to be established. The first assemblies could be up and running early in the next Parliament.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the establishment of referendums for regional government.

Nick Raynsford: The Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act 2003 provides for referendums on whether to establish an elected assembly and for associated local government reviews on options for local government restructuring.
	My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced in June 2003, following a soundings exercise, that the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and Humberside would be the first regions to progress towards holding a referendum for a regional assembly. Local government reviews are underway in these regions. When the Boundary Committee have presented their recommendations, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will lay orders in Parliament enabling referendums to take place.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much has been spent by the Department on (a) research and (b) preparation for regional referendums on devolved government.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not spent any money on research on regional referendums. Some staff time has been spent on developing policy and preparing Statutory Instruments related to the referendums.
	The cost of designing, printing and disseminating the results of the soundings exercise, that established which regions had an interest in holding a referendum, was £2,500 plus some staff costs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will spend £500,000 in this financial year, on an information campaign about elected regional assemblies in the three northern regions.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost of running a regional referendum.

Nick Raynsford: The Government are currently consulting on The Regional Assembly and Local Government Referendums (Counting Officers' Charges) (England) Order 2004, that will establish the costs of conducting the referendums. The cost will vary from region to region, depending on the size of the region, electorate, and level of turnout.
	Based on the figures in the draft order the cost of holding a referendum will be £1.47 per elector, if everyone eligible votes.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Department has a special unit to organise and operate referendums.

Nick Raynsford: The Electoral Commission is responsible for the organisation and operation of the regional referendums.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not therefore have a special unit to carry out these functions. However, some staff time has been spent on developing policy and preparing Statutory Instruments related to the referendums.

Regional Government

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he plans that regional assemblies would be able to levy taxes.

Nick Raynsford: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister stated in the White Paper, "Your Region, Your Choice" (Cm 5511) that an elected assembly will be able to raise money from a precept on the council tax. It will not be able to levy other taxes, including varying non-domestic rates or business taxes.

Sellers Packs

Claire Ward: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what progress is being made on the introduction of a seller's pack for house buyers.

Keith Hill: The Housing Bill, which provides for the introduction of home information packs, is currently before Standing Committee E in the House. Earlier this month the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published the findings of consumer and technical pilots of the Home Condition Report, summaries of the responses received to the consultation papers on the contents of the pack and how the pack should operate in low demand areas and research showing a potential labour force of between 10 to 18,000 people who could become home inspectors. Several Universities and colleges are already preparing courses for Home Inspectors. Following discussions with the industry the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has concluded that 1 January 2007 is an appropriate date to aim to introduce home information packs. This will send a clear message to our industry partners as to what needs to be done.

Sustainable Procurement

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidelines his Department gives to local authorities on sustainable procurement.

Nick Raynsford: The National Procurement Strategy for Local Government, jointly published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Local Government Association (LGA) in October 2003, encourages councils to achieve better value for money through effective and innovative procurement over the next three years. Among other things, it encourages councils to build sustainability into procurement strategies, processes and contracts. The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) has published guidance on sustainability and local government procurement, aimed specifically at councils' needs in this area.

Thames Gateway (Housing)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of whether the scale of the development which it foresees in the Thames Gateway can be accommodated on previously developed brownfield sites.

Keith Hill: One of the key features of the Gateway as a suitable location for sustainable development is the presence of a substantial reservoir of previously developed and brownfield land. The Gateway is estimated to contain some 2 per cent. of the land area of the south east but contains 17 per cent. of its current supply of previously developed land. The national target for development on previously developed land is 60 per cent.: in the period 1997–2000 an estimated 80 per cent. of new dwellings in the Gateway were built on previously developed land. The targeted investment now being mobilised through funding from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department for Transport and Regional Development Agencies aim to maintain this trend by increasing the viability and potential development density on key sites in the Gateway.
	The scale of development we have projected for the Gateway is based upon work with local partners on the presence and pattern of suitable development land. Details will be determined through the reviews of Regional Plans which is being undertaken by the three Regional Planning Bodies which cover the Gateway.

Thurrock Urban Development Corporation

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what new settlements are proposed within the Thurrock Urban Development Corporation area pursuant to paragraph 24 of Sustainable Communities: an Urban Development Corporation for Thurrock.

Keith Hill: Issues relating to new settlements and related housing growth in Thurrock are currently determined by Regional Planning Guidance 9 and are set out within Thurrock Council's Local Plan, as adopted in September 1997.
	The East of England Regional Assembly is currently in the process of preparing new Regional Planning Guidance for the East of England (RPG14). This will contain housing growth targets for all local authority areas within the region, including Thurrock.
	As the plan making body for Thurrock, it will be for the Council to interpret the requirements of RPG14 and to determine the location(s) and the manner in which housing growth will be accommodated in the borough.

CABINET OFFICE

SI No. 440

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the impact of Statutory Instrument No.440.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	No formal assessment has been made. However, no accidents or delays were reported on the mainline carriageway of side roads during the works carried out under SI No. 440.

HEALTH

Adverse Drug Reactions

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the percentage of NHS prescriptions involved in adverse drug reactions in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Data are not available to allow estimation of the percentage of national health service prescriptions which involved adverse drug reactions in the last year. Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions are collected by the Committee on Safety of Medicines/Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. The main purpose of the scheme is to identify new drug safety hazards and not to quantify their incidence.

Ambulance Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the need for regulation of private ambulance services to reflect practice in the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: We have encouraged self-regulation of private ambulance services and have made it clear to national health service organisations that, if they are using private ambulance companies, they must satisfy themselves that the organisation has suitably trained staff for the task and conforms to legal and other relevant standards.
	The use of private ambulance services in the NHS is covered by a code of practice issued in 1993 (EL(93)109).

Ambulance Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the training requirements are for (a) paramedics and (b) ambulance technicians in (i) the NHS and (ii) private ambulance services.

Rosie Winterton: Although training courses are delivered locally, paramedics and technicians employed by national health service ambulance services are trained in accordance with a national syllabus administered on behalf of the Department by the Ambulance Service Association and based on clinical advice from the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee.
	To qualify, they are also required to sit nationally set examinations with awards administered by Edexel on behalf of the Ambulance Service Association.
	To practise, paramedics have additionally to register and meet standards approved by the Health Professions Council.
	Training in private ambulance services is a matter for each individual employer. Each has a general duty to ensure that its staff are suitably qualified and trained in order to provide the level of care which they are required to deliver. If private ambulance services are employed by the NHS, guidance to trusts requires that they satisfy themselves that the contractor's staff are suitably trained and experienced.

Audiology

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made in reducing the number of analogue hearing aids used by NHS patients in (a) North West Leicestershire and (b) the East Midlands since January 2002;
	(2)  what progress is being made in the provision of NHS digital hearing aids in (a) North West Leicestershire and (b) the East Midlands.

Stephen Ladyman: Details of those audiology services that have been modernised are available in the Library. There are no plans to monitor the reduction in the number of people using analogue aids.
	I refer my hon. Friend to the response given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 26 January 2004, Official Report, column 176W.

Audiology

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when digital hearing aids will be freely available on the NHS for residents of (a) Taunton Deane and (b) West Somerset.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 10 February 2004
	Digital hearing aids are already available on the national health service for residents of Taunton Deane and West Somerset. A small number of digital hearing aids were made available in January 2004. However, the audiology department at the Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust will begin rolling out digital hearing aids comprehensively in March 2004 when 1,000 existing analogue users will start converting to digital technology.

Audiology

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are waiting for a hearing aid assessment in the (a) Taunton Deane and (b) Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust area.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 10 February 2004
	This information is not centrally held.

Children's Respite Care

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust gave to projects dealing with children's respite care in 2003.

Stephen Ladyman: During 2002–03, the Chorley and South Ribble Primary Care Trust (PCT) provided recurrent funding of £11,000 to Derian House Hospice. In addition, the PCT has also agreed to provide funding to the Chorley and South Ribble Crossroads Care scheme. £6,760 will be provided annually for three years and will help to employ three care attendants to work specifically with young adults with mental health needs, learning difficulties or physical difficulties which prevent them taking part in usual social activities with their peers. This scheme currently supports nine families.
	Audited accounts are not yet available for 2003–04.

Cisapride

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will conduct an investigation into the safety of the drug cisapride.

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department made of the impact of the drug cisapride before its withdrawal in the United Kingdom.

Rosie Winterton: In 2000, the former Medicines Control Agency (now the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) conducted a thorough review of the balance of risks and benefits of cisapride (Prepulsid, licensed for the treatment of motility-related gastrointestinal disorders). As cisapride was also authorised in other European Union (EU) Member States, a safety review by the European Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) was also taken forward at this time.
	Following careful review of efficacy studies and consideration of reports of suspected cardiac adverse reactions, the CSM concluded that the balance of risks and benefits for cisapride was no longer favourable and the Licensing Authority suspended the UK marketing authorisations (MAs) pending the outcome of the EU review. Following an opinion of the CPMP, the European Commission issued a Decision in May 2002 allowing restricted MAs for cisapride for use in certain indications in clinical trials or via a safety registry.
	However, the UK MAs remained suspended until 17 October 2003 when the company, Janssen Cilag, cancelled them.

Consultants

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the New Consultant Entry Scheme; and whether doctors on the Scheme count as consultants for the sake of the NHS Plan consultant recruitment targets.

John Hutton: The New Consultant Entry Scheme (NCES) has been developed for specialist registrars who have recently acquired the certificate of completion of specialist training and would like more practical support to help make the transition to consultant grade in their first consultant post. Placements are for six months in vacant consultant posts, after which the doctors can apply for substantive appointment in open competition.
	Appointments of NCES doctors to consultant vacancies are counted for the purposes of consultant recruitment targets.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) headcount and (b) whole-time equivalent figures are for dentists for each year since 1996 for (i) England, (ii) each NHS region and (iii) each strategic health authority.

Rosie Winterton: The information on the number of national health service dentists on a headcount basis in each region of England and by strategic health authority (SHA) at September each year from 1996 to 2002 is shown in the table.
	Information is not available on a whole-time equivalent (wte) basis because general dental service dentists are self employed dentists who do not work standard hours and who are able to vary their hours and their NHS commitment.
	NHS dentists cover dentists working in the general dental service (GDS), hospital dental service (HDS), community dental service (CDS), personal dental service (PDS) and salaried service of the GDS. Dentists working in more than one dental service are included in each service apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only.
	Information for 2003 on all NHS dentists is not yet available.
	
		National Health Service: Number of dentists in England by region and Strategic Health Authority at September each year
		
			  1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England 19,980 20,483 21,041 21,556 21,902 22,438 22,810 
			 NHS Region
			 Northern and Yorkshire 2,401 2,477 2,540 2,558 2,589 2,668 — 
			 Trent 1,749 1,799 1,820 1,900 1,915 1,918 — 
			 West Midlands 1,895 1,938 1,982 1,998 2,058 2,134 — 
			 North West 2,740 2,777 2,846 2,900 2,887 2,929 — 
			 Eastern 1,961 2,050 2,110 2,206 2,259 2,329 — 
			 London 3,633 3,680 3,807 3,821 3,875 3,967 — 
			 South East 3,538 3,627 3,683 3,840 3,915 4,033 — 
			 South and West 2,063 2,135 2,253 2,333 2,404 2,460 — 
			 
			 Strategic Health Authority
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 943 983 1,043 1,084 1,096 1,115 1,114 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 634 648 684 729 748 801 803 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 891 909 918 910 924 965 964 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 1,010 1,045 1,070 1,089 1,093 1,107 1,161 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 383 413 425 422 422 436 455 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire 549 564 584 597 622 636 664 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 738 742 776 773 760 797 787 
			 Dorset and Somerset 466 475 494 500 520 519 540 
			 Essex 557 577 579 599 621 627 625 
			 Greater Manchester 1,122 1,115 1,127 1,162 1,155 1,149 1,161 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 681 685 704 735 762 793 800 
			 Kent and Medway 641 664 654 679 668 663 686 
			 Leicestershire, Northants and Rutland 491 504 517 523 519 524 541 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 770 825 847 878 890 901 941 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire 573 584 592 611 632 664 671 
			 North Central London 696 730 750 767 755 768 765 
			 North East London 575 568 579 605 632 673 626 
			 North West London 935 947 1,012 992 1,000 998 978 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 584 594 616 635 655 645 688 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 455 465 480 491 512 533 551 
			 South East London 810 788 798 768 809 811 800 
			 South West London 617 647 668 689 679 716 707 
			 South West Peninsula 654 677 716 749 788 826 834 
			 South Yorkshire 519 537 522 547 558 553 578 
			 Surrey and Sussex 1,191 1,208 1,222 1,250 1,297 1,350 1,387 
			 Thames Valley 832 875 902 971 989 1,029 1,069 
			 Trent 839 854 886 933 942 941 990 
			 West Yorkshire 824 860 876 868 854 898 924

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent NHS dentists there were per head of population (a) in total and (b) offering NHS treatment in (i) England and (ii) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is for the number of national health service dentists (headcount) per 10,000 population and is shown in the table for September in each of the years 1997 to 2002.
	NHS dentists cover dentists working in the general dental service (GDS), hospital dental service (HDS), community dental service (CDS), personal dental service (PDS) and salaried service of the GDS.
	Dentists working in more than one dental service are included in each service, apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS, who are counted in the GDS only. Information for 2003 is not yet available.
	Information on a whole time equivalent basis is not available, as dentists working in the GDS are able to vary the amount of hours they work and to vary their NHS commitment. The majority of dentists working in the GDS do some NHS work.
	
		National health service: number of dentists per 10,000 population in England by strategic health authority for September each year
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 England 4.22 4.32 4.41 4.47 4.54 4.60 
			 Strategic health authority   
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 4.64 4.90 5.05 5.08 5.15 5.13 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 4.16 4.36 4.60 4.70 4.99 5.00 
			 Birmingham and the Black Country 3.98 4.03 4.01 4.09 4.26 4.24 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 4.42 4.53 4.63 4.65 4.71 4.95 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 3.61 3.72 3.71 3.72 3.85 4.02 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcester 3.75 3.87 3.94 4.10 4.17 4.31 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 3.90 4.08 4.07 4.00 4.18 4.12 
			 Dorset and Somerset 4.07 4.22 4.25 4.39 4.35 4.50 
			 Essex 3.65 3.65 3.75 3.86 3.88 3.85 
			 Greater Manchester 4.40 4.45 4.61 4.58 4.57 4.62 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 3.92 4.01 4.16 4.30 4.45 4.47 
			 Kent and Medway 4.29 4.21 4.34 4.24 4.19 4.32 
			 Leicester, Northants And Rutland 3.31 3.38 3.40 3.36 3.36 3.44 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 3.87 3.94 4.07 4.09 4.13 4.29 
			 North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire 3.64 3.69 3.80 3.92 4.10 4.13 
			 North Central London 6.43 6.58 6.65 6.48 6.39 6.29 
			 North East London 3.94 3.98 4.11 4.26 4.42 4.07 
			 North West London 5.73 6.08 5.89 5.86 5.64 5.48 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 4.21 4.39 4.55 4.72 4.66 4.98 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 3.15 3.24 3.31 3.45 3.58 3.69 
			 South East London 5.44 5.48 5.23 5.47 5.36 5.28 
			 South West London 5.19 5.33 5.46 5.35 5.51 5.42 
			 South West Peninsula 4.41 4.64 4.82 5.02 5.23 5.25 
			 South Yorkshire 4.20 4.10 4.31 4.40 4.37 4.56 
			 Surrey and Sussex 4.83 4.86 4.92 5.09 5.28 5.42 
			 Thames Valley 4.26 4.37 4.67 4.74 4.90 5.09 
			 Trent 3.34 3.45 3.63 3.65 3.59 3.75 
			 West Yorkshire 4.16 4.23 4.20 4.13 4.31 4.42 
		
	
	Note
	Population data are based on 2001 census mid-year estimates.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the gender breakdown of NHS dentists was in each year since 1997; and what the gender breakdown is of dentists in training.

Rosie Winterton: The information in Table 1 shows the number of female and male national health service dentists on a head count basis for England at September each year from 1997 to 2003.
	NHS dentists cover dentists working in the general dental service (GDS), hospital dental service (HDS), community dental service (CDS) and personal dental service (PDS). Dentists working in more than one dental service are included in each service apart from dentists working in both PDS and GDS who are counted in the GDS only. Excluded are the small number of salaried dentists in the GDS.
	Information on CDS and HDS for September 2003 is not currently available.
	Information on the gender breakdown of vocational trainees in the GDS is shown in Table 2.
	
		Table 1: National health service—Number of dentists by gender at 30September each year, England
		
			  General dental service Personal dental service Community dental service Hospital dental service Total 
			  Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male 
		
		
			 1997 4,640 12,088 — — 881 498 683 1,505 6,204 14,091 
			 1998 4,940 12,307 — — 888 497 704 1,521 6,532 14,325 
			 1999 5,224 12,497 44 39 876 492 709 1,539 6,853 14,567 
			 2000 5,444 12,605 103 89 866 477 711 1,476 7,124 14,647 
			 2001 5,670 12,684 273 194 877 471 730 1,454 7,550 14,803 
			 2002 5,758 12,642 376 280 922 509 759 1,464 7,815 14,895 
			 2003 5,930 12,607 467 335 — — — — — — 
		
	
	Note:
	PDS numbers exclude dentists who also work in the GDS. Female and male numbers for 1999 are estimated. PDS started in October 1998.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board and Department of Health medical and dental workforce census.
	
		Table 2: General dental service—Number of vocational dental practitioners by gender at 30September each year, England
		
			 Gender 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 All dentists 532 563 584 612 658 589 576 
			 Female 268 282 279 320 342 303 281 
			 Male 264 281 305 292 316 286 295 
		
	
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Departmental Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what grades of staff he proposes to remove from each Directorate of the establishment of the Department; and how many posts will remain in each.

Rosie Winterton: The Department is restructuring 14 directorates into three business groups. By October 2004, the numbers of posts per business group will be:
	Health and Social Care Standards and Quality: 804
	Health and Social Care Delivery: 626
	Strategy and Business Development: 815
	The Department's headcount in November 2003 was 3,631. The reduction to 2,245 posts will be achieved through a combination of transfers to partner organisations, natural wastage and managed exits. The numbers and grade of staff falling into each of those categories and from which of the three business groups is not yet known.

Desmopressin

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescription items of desmopressin there were in each (a) NHS region and (b) strategic health authority in each of the last five years, broken down by age.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of prescription items of desmopressin dispensed by strategic health authority has been placed in the Library. Comparable data at this level are only available from 2001.

Doctors

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of doctors in England who have passed their Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board examination but are unable to find a job in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: This information is not collected centrally by the Department. However, recent analysis in January 2004 by the General Medical Council shows that, of the doctors who passed the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board exams in 2002, 90 per cent. have gone on to take up a period of limited registration.

Domiciliary Care

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of care packages for maintaining elderly people in their own homes.

Stephen Ladyman: The table shows the estimated number of adults aged 65 and over receiving community based services in England for the years 2000–01 to 2002–03. Community based services includes day care, meals, respite care, direct payments, professional support, transport and equipment as well as home care.
	
		Estimated number of adults aged 65 and over receiving community based services(26) in England 2000–01 to 2002–03
		
			  Rounded number 
		
		
			 2000–01 925,000 
			 2001–02 972,000 
			 2002–03(27) 988,000 
		
	
	(26) Community based services includes day care, meals, respite care, direct payments, professional support, transport and equipment as well as home care.
	(27) The 2002–03 data excludes about 1,000 clients formerly in the receipt of preserved rights i.e. clients who were formally in receipt of higher rates of income under the DWP preserved rights scheme.
	Source:
	RAP form PI.

East Surrey Hospital

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when the Royal College of Psychiatrists inspected the accident and emergency department at the East Surrey hospital; what its recommendations were; and when he expects the recommendations to be implemented;
	(2)  what his assessment is of the safety of the accident and emergency department at the East Surrey hospital for members of the public (a) in the period following the inspection of the department by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and (b) following the instruction of 30 December 2003 of the clinical tutor to junior psychiatric doctors to cease attending patients at the department.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 5 February 2004
	The recommendations made by the Royal College of Psychiatrists are as follows:
	Consideration should be given to the re-siting of the on-call accommodation from West Park to the Epsom Hospital site.
	The reduction in the number of outpatient clinics in post number RPU/13/052/5/001 should be considered.
	Community visits should form an integral part of all general adult training posts.
	The tutor at Epsom Hospital should sit on the hospital library committee.
	Increased consultant support to the in-house educational activities is recommended.
	The protocol for access to the Meadows Unit after 5 p.m. should be reviewed.
	Consideration should be given to the development of a senior house officer post in child and adolescent psychiatry at East Surrey.
	The training scheme at East Surrey Hospital was approved for four years following this assessment.
	I understand from the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority that Surrey Oaklands National Health Service Trust has acted in accordance with the mandatory requirements and responded to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
	All NHS trusts have a statutory responsibility to ensure that their premises are safe for staff, and patients. I understand that a new accident and emergency psychiatric assessment room is planned for completion by end of February but in the interim an alternative room has been provided. This area has been assessed and endorsed by the chief executive of the trust as meeting safety requirements.

Elder Abuse

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to tackle abuse of the elderly.

Stephen Ladyman: The abuse of vulnerable adults is of huge concern to the Government. The Government launched guidance titled "No Secrets" in March 2000, which required local councils and other authorities to develop their own locally based procedures to prevent vulnerable adult abuse. Directors of social services had to ensure that local multi-agency codes of practice were developed and implemented by 31 October 2001. In June this year the Government intend to introduce the Protection of Vulnerable Adults list, which in practice amounts to a workforce ban on those who have abused or mistreated vulnerable adults in their care.

Foundation Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to applicant NHS foundation trusts on who should be installed on the electoral register for the board of governors; and when it was issued.

John Hutton: Schedule 1, paragraph 3 of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 sets out the eligibility requirements for membership of national health service foundation trusts. Anyone who is registered as a member of a particular constituency or class will be eligible to vote in elections for governors in that constituency or class. NHS foundation trusts must make provision in their constitution for the conduct of elections to the board of governors. Department of Health guidance to first wave applicants recommends the point at which the electoral register is closed for electoral purposes. This guidance was issued in January.

Foundation Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether political parties will be permitted to contest elections to the board of governors of NHS foundation trusts.

John Hutton: The Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 provides that anyone who is registered as a member of a particular constituency or class will be eligible to be nominated to stand for election in that constituency or class. The legislation sets out a limited number of exclusions and trust constitutions may include other limited exclusions consistent with the legislation. national health service foundation trusts must make provision in their constitution for the conduct of elections to the board of governors. This may include provisions on the requirements for nominations, and the declaration of interests of nominated candidates. Departmental guidance to first wave applicants recommends that individuals nominated to stand for election as governors should be required to declare if they are members of a political party.

Gallstones and Kidney Stones

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have required surgery for the treatment of (a) gallstones and (b) kidney stones in each of the past five years.

John Hutton: The table shows data relating to the number of operations carried out for the treatment of gallstones and kidney stones from 1998–99 to 2002–03.
	
		Operations for treatment of gallstones and kidney stones in NHS trusts in England
		
			  Procedure 
			  Gallstones Kidney stones 
		
		
			 1998–99 35,754 21,323 
			 1999–2000 36,457 21,290 
			 2000–01 39,090 21,445 
			 2001–02 40,127 20,725 
			 2002–03 43,679 21,293 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Child/Adolescent Mental Health Services

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) provision in England.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department conducts annual surveys of the range of child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) available in England. The first of these took place in autumn 2002 and represents the latest data available. I have arranged for a copy of the document that summarises the results of this survey to be placed in the Library.
	The survey did reveal some geographical disparities in CAMHS provision which reinforce the need to press ahead with the Department's objectives of attaining year-on-year increases in CAMHS provision of a minimum of 10 per cent. leading to a comprehensive CAMHS in all areas by 2006. Investment of £250 million over three years is being made to help achieve this.

Group B Streptococcus

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures his Department has collated on the number of cases of Group B Streptococcus in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Figures on the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs) of Group B Streptococcus in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	
		
			  FCEs 
		
		
			 1998–99 3,208 
			 1999–2000 4,057 
			 2000–01 5,513 
			 2001–02 5,822 
			 2002–03 7,137 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. An FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2. All Diagnosis count of Episodes—these figures represent a count of all FCEs where the diagnosis was mentioned in any of the 14 (seven prior to 2002–03) diagnosis fields in an HES record. A record is only included once in each count, even if a diagnosis is mentioned in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
	3. Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data. Except for 2001–02 and 2002–03, which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	4. Data Quality—Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The Department of Health liaise closely with these organisations to ensure that data quality is enhanced wherever possible. Inevitably, some shortcomings remain, but our goal is to minimise inaccuracies and bring about improvement over time.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Information Technology

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the scope of the NHS National IT programme is in relation to (a) social services departments and (b) pharmacists; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The key objective of the National Programme for Information Technology (NPfIT) in the national health service in England is to support, over time, the delivery of integrated health and social care by enabling appropriate access to records and improved storage, sharing and management of core data.
	NPfIT is responsible for introducing the NHS Care Record Service (NHS CRS), which will firstly lead to the NHS having an integrated electronic record management service. The NHS CRS will provide each patient with a single comprehensive set of electronic medical and care notes.
	Local practices and hospitals will continue to hold detailed local records, but additionally a summary health record will be created containing essential data such as allergies, current treatments or medication.
	From the outset some elements of social care information will be included and, provided that the necessary security and networking requirements are met, some social care professionals will have access to the NHS CRS. Full implementation of a unified health record that includes all appropriate social care information is planned for completion during phase 3 of the NPfIT in 2008–10.
	We have redefined the scope of the electronic transmission of prescriptions (ETP) programme in order to support the wider pharmacy agenda. This potentially offers greater benefit. For example, in terms of patient safety, there will be better information at the points of prescribing and dispensing. It will enable us to make better use of pharmacists' skills and use them to provide patient centred healthcare services that are integral to the NHS.
	The ETP programme will enable the commitments made in "Delivering 21st Century IT" be taken forward and will provide support for the broader pharmacy agenda outlined in "Pharmacy in the Future" and "A Vision for Pharmacy in the New NHS".
	The programme will also help to build capacity at the Prescription Pricing Authority, thereby enabling the projected increase in prescription volumes to be addressed. It will also potentially reduce the unit cost of administering prescriptions.
	Key elements of the electronic transmission of prescriptions system have been procured as part of the recently concluded NHS CRS procurements. Work is now focusing on how community pharmacies can be connected to the system, and how their pharmacy computer systems can be upgraded to comply with the requisite technical specification. It is intended that deployment of the live system will commence from January 2005.

Joint Replacements

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) hip and (b) knee replacements paid for out of NHS funds were performed in (i) the public sector and (ii) the private sector in each year since 1999, broken down by hospital trust; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Department of Health records activity in national health service hospitals only and does not collect data for NHS activity in private hospitals.
	Information on the number of hip and knee replacement operations carried out broken down by individual NHS hospitals in each year since 1999–2000, has been placed in the Library.

Joint Replacements

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost per operation was for (a) hip and (b) knee replacements in each hospital trust in financial year 1999–2000; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The information requested has been placed in Library. The table contains the average unit costs (per operation) for each national health service trust in England for primary hip replacements and primary knee replacements where the operation is undertaken as an elective (planned) admission.
	The data source is the Reference Costs 2000 Publication, relating to the financial year 1999–2000.
	Calculation of the costs provided are based on all activity and costs associated with each procedure, regardless of the specialty in which the activity is recorded.

Joint Replacements

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the data will be made available for the financial year 2002–03 for the cost per operation of (a) hip and (b) knee replacements in each hospital trust; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The information requested has been placed in Library. The table contains the average unit costs (per operation) for each national health service trust in England for primary hip replacements and primary knee replacements where the operation is undertaken as an elective (planned) admission.
	The data source is the Reference Costs 2003 Collection, relating to the financial year 2002–03, published on 5 February.
	Calculation of the costs provided is based on all activity and costs associated with each procedure, regardless of the specialty in which the activity is recorded. The costs relate solely to services provided to NHS patient by NHS providers.

Junior Doctors

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances junior doctors, changing hospitals as part of their normal rotation, can receive substantial pay cuts; and if he will list the London hospitals where this takes place.[R]

John Hutton: Junior doctors do not receive pay cuts as part of their normal rotation (and therefore, as this does not take place in any London hospital, no data are available).

Junior Doctors

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will visit Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital to discuss (a) the management and (b) salary payments of junior doctors on rotation there;[R]
	(2)  if he will investigate junior doctors' hours monitoring at Great Ormond Street Hospital in the department of neurosurgery. [R]

John Hutton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to visit Great Ormond Street in the near future.
	National health service trusts are responsible for ensuring that appropriate rotation and salary arrangements are in place for junior doctors in line with national guidance.
	Under those arrangements, there is regular monitoring to ensure that rotas are satisfactory, that junior doctors' hours are within agreed limits and that safe services are provided.
	Great Ormond Street has these arrangements in place, and policies and procedures under which any concerns can be raised and addressed.

NHS Estates

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reason the deal to sell NHS Estates surplus properties and inventures to the HBOS/Miller Consortium has not yet been completed; and when he expects completion;
	(2)  which sites initially identified in the proposed sale of NHS Estates surplus properties with inventures to the HBOS/Miller consortium are now not to be included.

John Hutton: Commercially confidential discussions with Miller/HBOS are still taking place and an announcement should be made shortly.

NHS Professionals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons NHS Professionals does not use agency staff supplied to it through arrangements with private agencies who have previously registered with NHS Professionals; and what estimate NHS Professionals has made of the number of staff who have been declined in this way.

John Hutton: The NHS Professionals Special Health Authority works in partnership with national health service trusts to provide temporary staffing solutions. In the first instance, NHS Professionals will always endeavour to provide staff from its own bank. If this is not possible, then vacancies will be passed to agency staff approved by the partner trust.

NHS Professionals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate NHS Professionals has made of the unit cost of an agency placement.

John Hutton: Because of variations in the method of calculation, the NHS Professionals Special Health Authority is unable to estimate a reliable average unit cost for an agency placement.

Public Bodies

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the costs were of setting up the Commission for Social Care Inspection; and what estimate has been made of the costs of operation in its first year.

Stephen Ladyman: The set up of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is still ongoing and the final cost is not yet available but the estimated total cost is in the order of £7 million.
	A budget for the cost of operating the new body in its first year (2004–05) has not yet been set but its running cost it is likely to be in the region of £150 million. As the new body will be part-financed from fees generated from its regulatory and inspection function, the net running cost which is met by a grant in aid from the Department is likely to be around £104 million.

Rural Elderly

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the support structures in place to promote the well-being of the rural elderly.

Stephen Ladyman: In March 2003, the Department of Health provided information to the Countryside Agency on 'rural proofing' health and social care services, including those for older people. This information was included in the agency's report Rural Proofing in 2002–03. The report can be viewed at www.countryside.gov.uk/publications.

Skin Disease

Bruce George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reasons the management of chronic skin disease was not included within the directed enhanced services of the new general medical services contract;
	(2)  for what reason skin diseases were omitted from the new general practitioner contract; and if he will make a statement; [R]
	(3)  what input his Department had in deciding the disease areas outlined under clinical domains in the quality framework for the general practitioner contract; [R]
	(4)  what factors were taken into account in deciding which disease areas should be included in the general practitioner contract's quality framework and essential services; [R]
	(5)  what assessment he has made of how the new general practitioner contract will benefit patients with chronic skin conditions. [R]

John Hutton: No disease is omitted from the new general medical services contract. The legal definition of essential services ensures that skin conditions will continue to be managed and treated in primary care to the extent such conditions can be handled appropriately and effectively in that setting. The contract also provides unprecedented investment in primary care and new mechanisms and opportunities through enhanced services to expand the range of services, improve convenience and choice for patients. This will allow the shift of specialised dermatology services from hospitals to primary care.
	The quality and outcomes framework was developed by an independent group of academic general practitioners whose recommendations on which disease areas to include were based on the disease priorities across the United Kingdom, evidence-based practice and accepted national clinical guidelines, and an understanding that responsibility for ongoing management and care of patients rests principally with general practitioners and the primary care team.
	The contract was negotiated and agreed by the National Health Service Confederation, acting on behalf of all UK Health Departments, and the British Medical Association.

Working Time Directive

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the impact on the NHS of the Working Time Directive changes coming into force this year.

John Hutton: The Department regularly discusses the impact of the Working Time Directive both formally and informally with key professional groups and national health service managers in the context of NHS compliance for doctors in training from 1 August 2004.